Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 652: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost expended by the State and all other agencies on the progression of the metro west project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27110/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) that the total expenditure in respect of the Metro West project until end-August 2011 is €17.9 million. This expenditure is broken down as follows: €million

Surveys, Studies & Route Selection 2.97

Design, Railway Order/Oral Hearing Preparation 13.86

PPP - Legal, Financial, Commercial &

Insurance Advisors 0.97

Restructuring Costs 0.10

Total 17.90

This expenditure relates solely to that incurred by the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) since I am not in a position to provide information on expenditure by agencies outside the remit of my Department.

Acting on the advice of the National Transport Authority (NTA), last month I instructed the RPA to withdraw its application for a Railway Order from An Bord Pleanála as funding for the project will not be available for the foreseeable future. All planning works for the project have now been cancelled.

This does not mean, however, that construction of Metro West has been cancelled indefinitely. Its implementation will be examined again at a future date when the country's finances have improved.