Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Transport if the route for the joining of the two existing LUAS lines has been selected; if this project will begin and be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6625/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) began a public consultation on five potential routes for connecting the two existing Luas lines in November 2005 with five possible route options, A to E. During public consultation a new option, F, was identified.

Options A and F have emerged as the better options and RPA launched a second phase of public consultation in January 2007 involving an open-day, display days, newspaper notices and distribution of newsletters focusing on the selection of the best of these two route options. The deadline for comments, which should be submitted to RPA, is Friday, 9 March 2007. I also understand that the RPA has 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.

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 second 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 the overall project is 2012.