Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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62. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress and completion date of the Luas cross-city project; and when it will come into operation. [15619/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Delivery of Luas Cross City is currently on time and within budget with operations scheduled to commence in quarter 4 2017.

The rate at which the project is progressing will be evident to anybody who has been in the city centre in recent weeks and months.  ​This is a major infrastructural project and the scale and complexity of it naturally means that there will be some disruption during the construction period but I believe the public and businesses in the city centre recognise that the completed project will bring significant benefits to the city.

As regards the physical works, the utility works have been completed and the contract for the main infrastructure track-laying works is well advanced.  Works to facilitate the Red line tie-in have recently commenced.  With effect from 22 May until the last week in July, Red line services will terminate at the Jervis Stop with replacement bus services operating from Jervis to the Point.  A very effective communications campaign was launched well in advance of these temporary changes to Red line services to advise passengers of the changes and the alternative transport arrangements that would operate during this period.

Once completed, Luas Cross City will significantly enhance accessibility and integration of public transport in Dublin.  The project will provide an interchange between the existing Red and Green Lines in the City Centre and will serve the new Dublin Institute of Technology campus at Grangegorman.

It will also connect Cabra, at Broombridge Rail Station, to the existing Luas at St. Stephen's Green.  This will allow for integration of Luas services with rail services from Maynooth & Dunboyne and the majority of the Quality Bus Corridor  schemes which enter or cross Dublin City Centre.