Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the Luas Line B2 from Cherrywood to Bray will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7000/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the public transport element of Transport 21. Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority in December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area, such as Luas Line B2, comes under the remit of the authority. The legislative basis for this is section 11(1)(e) of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, which provides that "the principal functions of the Authority are to secure the provision of public transport infrastructure". Noting this, I have referred the Deputy's question to the authority for direct reply. I understand this project was originally envisaged as being substantially non-Exchequer funded, with levies being paid from supplementary development contribution schemes and other developer contributions. Given the changed economic environment, and the unlikely prospect of significant private development in the area in the immediate future, the Railway Procurement Agency has advised that it has informed the local authorities and local interests that the Railway Order is being deferred. I would point out that no funding was included for this project in the previous Government's capital programme to 2014.