Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Transport when he expects the proposed metro to go to tender; and the cost benefit analysis of the project that has taken place internally within his Department and within the Department of Finance. [35855/06]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason he is not in a position to reveal the estimated cost of the Metro north project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35797/06]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Transport if a decision has been reached as to who will be responsible for funding the cost of developing an underground rail station at Dublin Airport; if he has a personal view on this issue; the discussions which have been undertaken between his Department and other relevant parties on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35816/06]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Transport when he intends to publish the full costings and business case for Metro north; the amount this project has cost to date; and when he expects to invite tenders for the construction of this project. [35762/06]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Transport the expected time schedule for the delivery and operation of the Dublin Metro system; the costs associated with same; the level of funding that has been allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35888/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 51, 70, 105 and 186 together.

Metro North is a key component in the overall public transport network that this Government proposes to develop as part of its investment framework, Transport 21.

Subject to an enforceable Railway Order, construction of Metro North is due for completion in 2012.

I announced the preferred route for Metro North on 19 October last. This 17 kilometre route was approved by the Board of the RPA, following a robust evaluation and a detailed public consultation process, which involved consideration of four possible route options.

The next step in this process will focus on consultations in relation to the design and possible construction methods of the tunnels, track layout and stations along the chosen route.

Metro North will be procured as a public private partnership (PPP), funded through annual availability payments, over a period of approximately 30 years. The PPP pre-qualification process is likely to commence in the next few months. I am advised by the RPA that it expects the proposed Metro North project to go to tender in the summer of 2007.

The strategic transportation and economic case for the Metro and Luas network is contained in the Dublin Transportation Office's (DTO) "A Platform for Change" strategy document published in 2001. Following detailed transportation modelling and thorough analysis, the DTO strategy recommended the development of an integrated public transport network including a Metro and additional Luas lines. The DTO strategy was the subject of an economic evaluation by independent consultants which is reported on in the published document.

The RPA undertook detailed economic and transportation analysis which confirmed the case for Metro North and concluded that the project has a positive benefit to cost ratio. This work formed part of the commercially confidential Outline Business Case.

In addition, further independent evaluation of the Metro project was undertaken on behalf of the Department of Finance. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport also commissioned an independent consultant's report, which supported the RPA analysis. This is available on the Oireachtas website. All of this independent evaluation supported the RPA's prudent approach in the Outline Business Case.

I have continually stated publicly that I am not in a position to release details of the costs for the Metro route because the details are commercially sensitive from the point of view of protecting public funds and getting best value for money. A further consideration is that this approach is in compliance with section 2.7.9 of the Department of Finance Public Private Partnerships Guidelines. This section of the guidelines deals with the Public Sector Benchmark (PSB), which must be prepared in the case of PPP projects and include estimates of the capital cost of the projects; the section reads as follows and I quote:

Current policy is that the final PSB, or any elements thereof, is not made public, on the basis that revealing the amount that the State is willing to pay for a service may give tenderers an opportunity to increase their asking price above what they might otherwise seek. For this reason, where the public sector is likely to want to procure a similar project in the same or other sectors in the foreseeable future, such information should not be released even after the completion of the procurement process.

In the case of a once-off project, where there is not likely to be any similar procurement in the future, the release of the PSB after the contract has been signed could be considered.

On this basis, consideration will be given to the release of information regarding the costings of Metro North after the signing of the contract for the project.

I can advise the House that €14.4m has been spent on the Metro project to date. This cost includes work on route selection, preparation of the business case, environmental assessments, preparation for the procurement of metro and design for a railway order application, as well as detailed geotechnical investigations.

In relation to the underground station in Dublin Airport, I understand that the RPA has requested assistance from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) for funding of this station. Discussions are ongoing between the RPA and the DAA on this matter.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding the proposed extension to Luas and new Luas lines; and the timescale proposed for these works. [35787/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) has made substantial progress on the Luas projects contained in Transport 21.

The current situation relating to these Luas projects is as follows.

Luas Spur to City West (A1)

Following agreement with developers in relation to contributions to the cost of the proposed spur off the Tallaght Luas line to City West, the RPA launched an up-dated public consultation in August 2006. The up-date concerns a new proposed terminus at Saggart involving an extra 0.8km of Luas track; the overall revised length of the proposed spur to City West is 4 km. As a result of the negotiations to extend the line and the lands covered by a development levy and subject to an enforceable Railway Order, the scheduled completion date for this project is 2010.

Luas Extension to Cherrywood (B1)

I signed the Railway Order for the Luas extension to Cherrywood on 14 August 2006. However, in early October a third party sought leave in the High Court to challenge the grant of this Order, by way of judicial review. This matter is now before the courts. The scheduled completion date for this project is dependent on the outcome of the High Court proceedings. An early and successful conclusion to these proceedings would permit a scheduled completion date of 2010.

Luas Extension from Cherrywood to Bray (B2)

Public consultation on the further extension of the Luas from Cherrywood to Bray was launched on 14 August 2006. Subject to an enforceable Railway Order, the scheduled completion date for this project is 2015.

Linking of Luas lines in City Centre (BX/D)

The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) began a public consultation on five potential routes for connecting the two existing Luas lines in November 2005. I understand that the RPA is engaged in dialogue with Dublin City Council, Dublin Bus and the Dublin Transportation Office in relation to the implications of the potential routes for bus services and other road users. Subject to a satisfactory outcome of those discussions, the RPA expects to identify a preferred option in the coming months and following this an application for a Railway Order will be made. The construction timescale will be dependent on the route chosen following the public consultation and the discussions with stakeholders and on the outcome of the statutory approval process.

A further stage of this project will extend the line to Liffey Junction via Grangegorman and Broadstone. Subject to an enforceable Railway Order, the scheduled completion date for this project is 2012.

Luas Extension to the Point Depot (C1)

The public inquiry into the proposed Luas extension to the Point Depot concluded on 2 June 2006 and the Inspector's report on that Inquiry was published on 6 August 2006. I am currently considering all the relevant documentation, including the Inspector's report, and will make a decision on the RPA's application for a Railway Order in due course. Subject to an enforceable Railway Order, the scheduled completion date for this project is 2008.

Lucan to City Centre (Luas F)

A feasibility study on route alignments for the Lucan Luas line is ongoing. Subject to an enforceable Railway Order, the scheduled completion date for this project is 2013.

Extension of Trams on Tallaght Line

The capacity enhancement project on the Tallaght Luas line is on schedule to deliver an additional 40% in capacity by 2008 through the extension of the trams from 30 to 40 metres. The first of the extended trams is scheduled to enter service in mid 2007.