Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has received correspondence from a person (details supplied) in County Wexford of 4 May 2006; and his views on the issues raised by the person. [20400/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My office has no record of having received the correspondence from the person referred to by the Deputy. However, on receipt of this Dáil Question, my officials contacted the Deputy's office for clarification and a copy of the letter was faxed to my office on Thursday 25th May 2006.

In summary, it appears that the author of the letter wishes to put forward certain suggestions for my consideration in relation to the proposed extension of Luas Line B from Sandyford Industrial Estate to Cherrywood.

As the Deputy is aware, the Railway Order application process is governed by the provisions of sections 36 to 43 of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act, 2001. Pursuant to those provisions, the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) published notices in the media on 14th November 2005 of the details of their application in respect of this project, including the associated EIS, and specifying a deadline of 2nd February 2006 for interested parties to make submissions to me.

In addition, and in accordance with the Act, I directed that a Public Inquiry be held into the RPA's application for this Railway Order and I appointed an Inspector to conduct that Inquiry. The Inspector acts on an independent basis in the performance of his functions. Any interested party was entitled to appear and be heard at the Inquiry which was held from 6th to 13th March 2006. In media notices on 6th February 2006, the Railway Order Public Inquiry Office (which also operates independently of my Department) advertised the dates of the Inquiry and invited interested parties to attend and/or make submissions to the Inspector by 20th February 2006.

As the person referred to by the Deputy does not appear to have availed of any of these opportunities to air his views on the proposed project, it is not now open to me to consider his submission, if and when I receive it from him, in the context of my statutory obligations under section 43 of the 2001 Act.