Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Transport when the commitment to join the green and red Luas lines as outlined in the Programme for Government will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39924/08]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Transport the commencement of works and completion date for Luas line BX and Luas line D; if he has carried out feasibility studies for the line D Broadstone Luas that could proceed without the BX line going ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39837/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 168 together.

Transport 21 provides for the development of a Luas line from St. Stephen's Green to Liffey Junction (lines BX, D), using the old Broadstone railway alignment. Luas line BX runs from St. Stephen's Green to O'Connell Street while Luas line D is the onward extension of the line from O'Connell Street to Liffey Junction. Earlier this year, I mandated the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) to proceed with planning the delivery of line BX/D, based on the agency's preferred route for line BX and the use of the old Broadstone railway alignment for line D. It will not be possible to fully construct Luas line BX at the same time as the construction of Metro North because of the traffic management implications which would arise in the city centre. The RPA is developing a construction strategy for Luas line BX, in close co-operation with Dublin City Council, which includes use of Metro North construction sites and recognises the traffic management requirements of the city centre. The RPA is engaging with Dublin City Council on the basis of the contemporaneous delivery of lines BX and D. In this regard it is the intention of the RPA to make a single railway order application for the combined line BX/D to An Bord Pleanála in the latter part of next year. I understand from the RPA that public consultation on line D route options is taking place at present and that the identification of a preferred route option is likely by the end of 2008.

Transport 21 provides that new Luas lines will link into the existing network to provide a coherent public transport offering and operational flexibility to the travelling public, enabling depot and other resource sharing between lines with consequent efficiencies. I am of the view, for the reasons outlined above, that the construction of Luas line D, without proceeding with line BX, would not be a viable option for operational and transport planning reasons. The start and completion dates of Luas line BX/D, will be determined by the outcome of work being undertaken by Dublin City Council and the RPA in developing a construction strategy, the outcome of the statutory approval and procurement processes and the funding allocation available to my Department during the current difficult economic climate.