Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the LUAS cross city project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15030/13]

Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the link up between the red and green lines of the LUAS tram system will happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15239/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 64 together.  

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including the proposed Luas Cross City Line.

Luas Cross City Line has been prioritised in the Government's 5-year capital plan - Infrastructure & Capital Investment Programme 2012-2016 - Medium Term Exchequer Framework  and following consideration by Government  of the project’s updated business plan last November, I asked the NTA and the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) to proceed with the procurement and contractual arrangements so that the enabling works for the project would commence mid - 2013 at the latest.

I understand that work has already commenced on building condition surveys which will establish a baseline record of the condition of properties along the Luas Cross City Line. The procurement process for the advance works i.e. Heritage Works, Cellar Investigation and Utility Diversions is also well advanced.  The first of these contracts - the Heritage Works contract - will be awarded very shortly.

The main construction works for the project are expected to commence in 2015.  Construction is expected to take 4 years and the overall programme for the project envisages the commencement of operational services on the line in 2017.