Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding the Luas works from Tallaght to Citywest; if he will seek assurances from the Railway Procurement Agency regarding the level of service to be provided following a newspaper article (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16006/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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In August of last year, following an application to An Bórd Pleanála (including an Environmental Impact Statement) and an Oral Hearing, the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) secured an enforceable Railway Order (planning permission) for the new Luas spur line to Citywest and Saggart. The line is currently under construction.

Passengers from Saggart wishing to travel to Tallaght and vice versa will change trams at Belgard and the Belgard Luas stop will be upgraded to facilitate this interchange.

I am informed by the RPA that there has been no change in the planned service pattern to and from Tallaght and Saggart since the grant of the Railway Order. Contrary to the newspaper article referred to by the Deputy, and as stated in the EIS, the initial peak services pattern envisages five services per hour departing Saggart directly for the city centre and a further five services per hour operating as a shuttle service to Belgard Stop. This represents a service frequency of 6 minutes between trams and is considered more than sufficient to meet demand.

Construction of the new Luas line to Citywest and Saggart is expected to be completed by the end of next year with services operating on the line in early 2011.