John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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516. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport following the publication of the transport strategy for the greater Dublin area 2016 - 2035 to outline the plans to advance the metro west project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7534/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including metro and light rail projects.

Metro West was proposed under Transport 21as an orbital metro connecting Tallaght and Blanchardstown in the west of Dublin with the original Metro North proposal to Swords. The project was to be procured as a Public Private Partnership, however a significant Exchequer contribution would also have been required.

In October 2010 the then Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) submitted an application to An Bord Pleanala for a Railway Order for the metro project. In light of the financial crisis, it was decided that the Railway Order application for Metro West should be withdrawn in September 2011.

I recently approved the NTA's Transport Strategy for the GDA for the period 2016-2035. The Strategy does not include the original Metro West proposal but it includes proposals for the future development of an east-west Luas line, commencing in the residential areas of Lucan and connecting into Dublin City Centre. This will provide a high capacity radial service from this area to the City Centre, sufficient to cater for the high transport demand along this corridor, and will serve Lucan, Liffey Valley and Ballyfermot along its route.

The Strategy also envisages the development of a Core Bus Network, which would include a range of radial and orbital routes serving Dublin West, and a Bus Rapid Transit scheme linking Blanchardstown with UCD.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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517. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport following the publication of the transport strategy for the greater Dublin area 2016 - 2035 to set out when the Lucan Luas line project will progress. [7535/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the implementation and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including Luas light rail projects.

In this regard, I recently approved the NTA's Transport Strategy for the GDA (comprising the counties of Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow) for the period 2016-2035. The Strategy provides a framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services in the GDA over the next two decades. It includes a proposal for an extension of the Luas to Lucan. Following approval of the Strategy, and in accordance with its statutory mandate, the NTA has now commenced work on a six year Integrated Implementation Plan.

The Government's plans for transport investment for this period are set out in the new Capital Plan, 'Building on Recovery' Infrastructure & Capital Investment 2016-2021. The Capital Plandoes not include funding for this project so it will not be advanced during this period. The timeline for the project will be determined in the context of future Integrated Implementation Plans brought forward by the NTA for implementation of the Strategy and future Capital Funding Reviews.

The development of any Luas project would also be subject to appraisal and evaluation (including review of a detailed business case) under the Public Spending Code as well as the availability of funding.