Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 794: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there has been further communication between the National Transport Authority and An Bord Pleanála in the issues raised by the planning authority with regard to the construction of the Luas BXD line; if he will confirm the budget he expects to be spent on the project this year; when he expects pre-construction on the project to start; when the main construction work will commence and when he expects the line to open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20484/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) on 1st December 2009, the provision of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as LUAS BXD, now comes under the remit of the NTA.

You will be aware that arising from their consideration of the railway order application, An Bord Pleanala (APB) wrote to both the RPA and the NTA seeking clarification of certain matters relating to the planning application. Both organisations responded to APB by the specified date i.e. 30th March 2012.

BXD is a priority project under the Government's capital investment programme for transport to 2016 - "Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-2016 - Medium Term Exchequer Framework". Therefore funding has been included in my Departments capital allocation to cover the cost of commencing the main construction works in 2015 and pre-construction enabling works in 2013 and 2014. Construction is expected to take 4 years.

However, key decisions and actions which will determine the precise construction start must await the outcome of the planning process.