Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 661: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress to date with regard to Metro North; the position regarding the tendering process; if he will ascertain from the Railway Procurement Agency when construction work is expected to begin; and the cost of the project to date, including legal fees. [38859/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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On 30th June, the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) announced that it had short-listed two bidding groups, Celtic Metro Group and Metro Express, to proceed to the final stage of the Metro North PPP procurement process. The formal commencement of the final stage of the procurement process is subject to a decision by An Bord Pleanála (ABP) on the railway order application for the project.

The Oral Hearing before ABP on the railway order application commenced on 1st April last and was adjourned on 29th April to allow consideration of further information requested from the RPA. On 26th June last, ABP wrote to the RPA requesting that further detailed information on various aspects of the project be submitted to it by 1st October 2009 and this information has now been put on public display. ABP has yet to announce a date for the recommencement of the Hearing.

The implementation of this project is subject to the outcome of the statutory planning and procurement processes and a final decision by the Government following the completion of these processes.

The expenditure incurred, including legal fees, on Metro North, to end September 2009 is €133.5m.