Written answers

Wednesday, 1 October 2008

Department of Transport

Light Rail Project

2:00 pm

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding the major excavation relating to metro north, the Dublin rail interconnector and the Luas link-up; if all of these projects will proceed on time and on budget; the agencies and companies he and his Department have recently met in preparation for the excavation works; when he will begin a public information campaign for affected residents and businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32515/08]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Good progress is being made on the delivery of Metro North, the Interconnector and the Luas Line from St. Stephen's Green to Liffey Junction (Bx/D). The RPA placed copies of the Railway Order application on display on 17 September in accordance with the 6 week statutory public notice requirement pursuant to section 37 of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001. Tender documentation issued to the PPP bidding consortia in May and tenders are due to be received by February 2009. Planning and design work is continuing in relation to the Luas Line Bx/D.

In relation to the Interconnector, tenders were sought in June 2008 from the five pre-qualified companies to undertake the reference design suitable for a Railway Order. The tendering process for the geotechnical investigation team also commenced in June 2008. The detailed planning being undertaken in relation to Luas Line Bx/D includes the development of a construction strategy, which takes cognisance of the works in the city centre required for Metro North. It is not possible to construct Metro North and Luas Line Bx/D simultaneously, in light of the traffic management consequences in the city centre. The timescale for the project will be critically dependant on the outcome of this work. The target date for the completion of Metro North is 2013 and the target date for the completion of the Interconnector is 2015. These completion dates are dependent on the outcome of the planning and procurement processes.

Pending the establishment of the Dublin Transport Authority, the Dublin City Manager chairs the Dublin Transport 21 Implementation Group which co-ordinates and oversees the investment programme in Dublin. The group comprises the chief executives of the principal implementing agencies, an Assistant Secretary from my Department, the Fingal County Manager, the Director of Traffic and representatives of the Garda Síochána and business associations. Two sub-groups have been established and the business community is represented on both.

The Contingency Planning Group is overseeing the preparation of a traffic management plan for the Transport 21 construction phase, focused particularly on the city centre. This plan will take account of other construction activity by local authorities, public bodies and private developers.

The Communications Group is preparing a co-ordinated communications strategy for the construction period of major Transport 21 projects, such as Metro North and the Interconnector. The theme of this strategy will be "Dublin is open for business".

In addition, the Railway Procurement Agency continues to meet individual businesses and resident organisations along the Metro North preferred alignment to inform them of its plans and address issues of concern. I hold regular quarterly meetings with the Transport 21 implementing agencies, An Garda Síochána and business organisations in Dublin to identify the principal concerns of the business community and to review progress on traffic planning for the construction phase of Transport 21 projects.

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