Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 285: To ask the Minister for Transport the deadline for the completion of metro north; the estimated cost of metro north; the amount of funding ring-fenced for the Metro North project; if he envisages delays to the delivery timeframe for Metro North in view of the changed economic circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29070/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government remains committed to the implementation of the Metro North project which is a critical element of the Transport 21 strategy to transform the public transport system in the Greater Dublin Area.

In January 2008, the Government approved the funding structure for the Metro North PPP, including an Exchequer provision for advance works ahead of the main PPP contract and a capital contribution during construction.

The Metro North project is progressing well — the tender documents were issued to the four PPP bidding consortia in mid May and the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) has held meetings with the consortia recently. The bidders are putting their bids together with a view to submitting them towards the end of this year.

Advance works have commenced, detailed planning and design work on the project is ongoing and the RPA expects to lodge an application with An Bord Pleanála for a railway order in the current year.

The target date for completion of the project is 2013. However, this date will be critically determined by the outcome of both the planning and procurement processes. These processes will also determine when the main project will commence, when a contractor will be appointed, when the project will be completed and when operations will commence.

I am not in a position to publish the estimated capital cost of the Metro North project in advance of the completion of the public procurement process. The publication of such commercially sensitive information prior to the completion of the competitive procurement process would prejudice the State's capacity to derive maximum value for money in respect of the project.