Written answers

Wednesday, 1 October 2008

2:00 pm

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 18: To ask the Minister for Transport the stage of development of the metro west project; the estimated completion date of metro west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32513/08]

Photo of Noel CoonanNoel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for Transport the future of metro north and metro west in view of the economic climate; his plans to scale back these projects; the preparatory work that has already been funded by his Department to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32616/08]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 32 together.

The Railway Procurement Agency continues to make good progress on Metro North. Copies of the Railway Order application for Metro North were placed 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. The tender documentation issued to the PPP bidding consortia in May and tenders are due to be received by February 2009.

The emerging preferred route for Metro West was announced by the RPA in July 2007. The selected route alignment will connect Tallaght, Clondalkin, Liffey Valley, Blanchardstown with Metro North at Metro Park, close to Dublin Airport. It will also provide integration with the Luas Red Line at Tallaght, the Kildare and Maynooth suburban rail lines and the new Lucan Luas line to be delivered under Transport 21. A further round of consultation is now underway to provide greater definition to the route after which the RPA will proceed with the preparation of a Railway Order application.

The start and completion dates of Transport 21 projects which have not yet commenced will be determined by the funding allocation available during the current difficult economic climate. The provision of increased capacity will be a key priority in determining public transport investment priorities in the period ahead. In that context Metro North and the Interconnector are particularly important rail investments as they form a core part of the planned integrated public transport network for the Greater Dublin Area envisaged by Transport 21.

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