Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of public servants, external consultants or other staff employed on a full or part-time basis on the metro north project; the amount of funding that has been allocated for the delivery of this project in 2009 and 2010 respectively; when the tendering process is scheduled to be completed; when the construction phase is scheduled to begin and to be completed; if this project is to be progressed on a public private partnership basis; if the cost of the project is thus expected to be spread over a period of 15 to 40 years; if it is envisaged that the PPP will be conducted on a design build finance operate basis, an operate and maintain basis or some other basis; the payment options being explored for this PPP; the approximate cost of this project and the approximate annual cost of this project over the period 2010 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12462/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Metro North project is being procured by the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) as a PPP on the Design, Build, Finance and Maintain model with a separate Operator contract. In January last year, the Government approved the funding structure for the Metro North PPP, including an Exchequer provision for advance works ahead of the main PPP contract and a capital contribution during construction.

The first round of tenders for this PPP contract were submitted on 27th February 2009 and these tenders are now being evaluated by the RPA. As I have said previously, I am not in a position to give any information in relation to the budget for this project, or the nature or duration of the payment options, in advance of the completion of the PPP process. The publication of such commercially sensitive information prior to the completion of the competitive procurement process would prejudice the State's capacity to derive maximum value for money in respect of this project.

The start and completion dates of Transport 21 projects, which have not yet commenced, will be determined by the outcome of the statutory approval and procurement processes and the funding allocation available during the current difficult economic climate. The provision of increased capacity will be a key consideration in determining public transport investment priorities in the period ahead. In that context, Metro North and DART underground 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.

The Exchequer capital amount currently allocated from my Department's Estimate for 2009 in respect of Metro North is €60m. The Oral Hearing before An Bórd Pleanála on the railway order application for Metro North is scheduled to commence on 1 April and the Board has revised its anticipated decision date on this application from March to September of this year. In these circumstances it is most unlikely that the enabling works which the RPA had planned to undertake (subject to securing an enforceable railway order) will commence in the current year. However, both the RPA and my Department will keep the matter under review including any necessary adjustments to the Exchequer allocation for the project in the current year.

The allocation for Metro North for next year will be decided in the context of the Estimates for 2010.

The allocation of staff or consultancy resources by agencies, such as the Railway Procurement Agency, is a matter for the agencies themselves and I do not have any function in the matter.

In my Department staff are allocated to projects on a divisional basis and are assigned to tasks on a flexible basis according to work priorities.

Booz and Co., Consultants are employed by my Department to assess the quality and robustness of project development and implementation of selected Transport 21 projects, including Metro North, with regard to compliance with the appraisal and procurement guidelines and to give advice on the financial, economic and technical aspects of the Transport 21 Capital Investment Programme.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of public servants, external consultants or other staff employed on a full or part-time basis on the metro west project; the amount of funding that has been allocated for the delivery of this project in 2009 and 2010 respectively; when the tendering process is scheduled to be completed; when the construction phase is scheduled to begin and to be completed; if this project is to be progressed on a public private partnership basis; if the cost of the project is thus expected to be spread over a period of 15 to 40 years; if it is envisaged that the PPP will be conducted on a design build finance operate basis, and operate and maintain basis or some other basis; the payment options being explored by the PPP; the approximate cost of the project and the approximate annual cost of this project over the period 2010 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12463/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Metro West project will be procured by the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) as a PPP on the Design, Build, Finance and Maintain model with a separate Operator contract.

As I have said previously, I am not in a position to give any information in relation to the budget for this project, or the nature or duration of the payment options, in advance of the completion of the PPP process. The publication of such commercially sensitive information prior to the completion of the competitive procurement process would prejudice the State's capacity to derive maximum value for money in respect of this project.

The start and completion dates of Transport 21 projects, which have not yet commenced, will be determined by the outcome of the statutory approval and procurement processes and the funding allocation available during the current difficult economic climate.

The Exchequer capital amount currently allocated from my Department's Estimate for 2009 in respect of Metro West is €10m. This provision is to facilitate progress on the planning and design of the project and preparations for an application to An Bórd Pleanála for a railway order.

The allocation for this project for next year will be decided in the context of the Estimates for 2010.

The allocation of staff or consultancy resources by agencies, such as the Railway Procurement Agency, is a matter for the agencies themselves and I do not have any function in the matter.

In my Department staff are allocated to projects on a divisional basis and are assigned to tasks on a flexible basis according to work priorities.

Booz and Co., Consultants are employed by my Department to assess the quality and robustness of project development and implementation of selected Transport 21 projects, including Metro North, with regard to compliance with the appraisal and procurement guidelines and to give advice on the financial, economic and technical aspects of the Transport 21 Capital Investment Programme.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of public servants, external consultants or other staff currently employed on a full time or part-time basis on the DART underground project; the amount of funding that has been allocated for the delivery of this project in 2009 and 2010 respectively; when the tendering process is scheduled to be completed; when the construction phase is scheduled to begin and to be completed; if this project is to be progressed on a public private partnership basis; if the cost of the project is thus expected to be spread over a period of 15 to 40 years; if it is envisaged that the PPP will be conducted on a design build finance operate basis, an operate and maintain basis or some other basis; the payment options being explored for this PPP; the approximate cost of this project and the approximate annual cost of this project over the period 2010 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12464/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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It is intended to procure the DART Underground mainly as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) on the Design, Build, Finance and Maintain model. Issues relating to the planning and design of the DART Underground come under the remit of the CIE Group. Irish Rail will operate the rail services. CIE anticipates that it will lodge an application for a Railway Order for the DART Underground with An Bórd Pleanála later this year. Subject to the outcome of this process, construction works are expected to commence in late 2010 with a completion date of end 2015.

As I have said previously, I am not in a position to give any information in relation to the budget for this project, or the nature or duration of the payment options, in advance of the completion of the PPP process. The publication of such commercially sensitive information prior to the completion of the competitive procurement process would prejudice the State's capacity to derive maximum value for money in respect of this project.

The start and completion dates of Transport 21 projects, which have not yet commenced, will be determined by the outcome of the statutory approval and procurement processes and the funding allocation available during the current difficult economic climate. The provision of increased capacity will be a key consideration in determining public transport investment priorities in the period ahead. In that context, the DART Underground and Metro North, 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.

The Exchequer capital amount currently allocated from my Department's Estimate for 2009 in respect of the DART Underground is €23m. This provision is to facilitate progress on the planning and design of the project and preparations for an application to An Bórd Pleanála for a railway order. The allocation for next year for the DART Underground will be decided in the context of the Estimates for 2010.

The allocation of staff or consultancy resources by agencies, such as the Railway Procurement Agency, is a matter for the agencies themselves and I do not have any function in the matter.

In my Department staff are allocated to projects on a divisional basis and are assigned to tasks on a flexible basis according to work priorities.

Booz and Co., Consultants are employed by my Department to assess the quality and robustness of project development and implementation of selected Transport 21 projects, including Metro North, with regard to compliance with the appraisal and procurement guidelines and to give advice on the financial, economic and technical aspects of the Transport 21 Capital Investment Programme.