Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the progress made to date with the Luas cross line project; the stage the project is at; the amount that has been spent to date on same; and the current estimated date of completion. [8582/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.  Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as LUAS Cross City, comes under the remit of the NTA. 

The estimated cost of the project is €368 million which includes€16m spent to date. Funding has been included in my Department's capital allocation to 2016 to cover the cost of commencing the main construction works in 2015 and for pre-construction enabling works in 2013 and 2014.  Construction is expected to take 4 years and the project is scheduled for completion in late 2017.

I understand from the NTA that the procurement process for the initial Heritage Works, Cellar Investigation and Utility Diversions contracts is now underway.  It is likely that the first contract (initial Heritage Works) will be awarded in March, while enabling works are expected to commence in May 2013.