Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Transport if the metro north project is going ahead; and the approximate cost of same. [10313/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Good progress continues to be made on the Metro North Project. The first round of tenders for the Public Private Partnership contract were submitted to the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) on 27th February 2009. These tenders will now be evaluated by the RPA.

On 2nd March, 2009 An Bord Pleanála held a preliminary planning hearing into RPA's application for a railway order and the Oral Hearing is likely to commence in the coming weeks. An Bórd Pleanála has indicated its intention to give a decision on the application before 4 September, 2009.

As I have stated previously, I am not in a position, given its commerciality sensitivity, to give any information in relation to the cost of Metro North in advance of the completion of the public procurement process.

In accordance with the requirements of the Government decision on Transport 21, Metro North will be submitted to Government for a final decision on the project on the completion of the tender process.