Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will report on progress on the big dig infrastructure works necessary in Dublin city centre to facilitate the construction of metro north, the Luas link-up and the Dublin rail interconnector; if adjustments have been made to the contingency plans of the big dig in view of the reports on the deferral of the Luas Line BX; the stakeholders involved in planning for the big dig; when he will start a public information and awareness campaign on the big dig; the major traffic changes that will be made in April 2009 or later in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46348/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) lodged their application for a railway order for Metro North with An Bord Pleanála on 18th September last. Subject to the grant of an enforceable railway order, preparatory works such as utility diversions will commence in 2009. Good progress is also being made in planning work for the DART underground (Interconnector) and Irish Rail has set itself a target of making a railway order application in 2009.

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 by Dublin City Council of a traffic management strategy for the Transport 21 construction phase, focussed particularly on the city centre. This strategy 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, Dublin City Council is holding focus meetings with the city centre business community while the RPA continues to meet individual businesses and residents' organisations along the Metro North preferred alignment to inform them of its plans and to address issues of concern. I understand that in early in 2009 a multi-agency joint strategy, including a public information and awareness campaign, will be rolled out.

It will not be possible to fully construct Luas Line BX at the same time as 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 (City Centre — Liffey Junction). 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 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. I last met with the Dublin City Centre Stakeholders Group on 29 September 2008. It was agreed at that meeting that the next meeting of the Stakeholders Group will be in January 2009.