Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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141. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the role his Department has in the requisition of longer trams on the LUAS green line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3515/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.  The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area and in the context of Light Rail works with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to deliver the Luas Network.

Passenger numbers on both lines of the Luas network increased by over 10% to 37.6 million in 2017. With the Green Line now extended to Broombridge, and providing interchange with the Red Line and greater connectivity to rail services, those numbers are likely to grow substantially again in 2018.  While it is welcomed that so many new customers are using the extended Green Line, it has meant that some trams are operating at capacity. 

As part of the Luas Cross City project seven new 55 metre-long trams have been ordered by TII to increase capacity on the Green Line.  The first of these new trams is expected to be in service next month and the remainder will be delivered and become operational over the next few months.

In addition, the Green Line Capacity Enhancement project was recently approved by Government. The purpose of the project is to address current capacity limits at peak hours on the Luas Green Line and to cater for future demands along the line. The project is proposed in the National Transport Authority's (NTA) Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035. 

The project, being managed by TII and NTA, will cost approximately €90 million and it includes the lengthening of the 26 existing Green line trams from 43 metres to 55 metres and the purchase of a further 8 new 55 metre-long trams which will greatly increase the passenger capacity of the fleet now and to meet future passenger demand. The capacity increases at peak periods provided by the project will assist in reducing crowding on the Green Line and enhance accessibility for mobility and sensory impaired users during these periods. 

The project also includes modifications to Sandyford Depot to accommodate the maintenance of the longer trams. Construction work has already begun at the depot and the order for the tram extensions was placed in November last year.

Additionally the Green Line Infrastructure Upgrade, an investment project to lengthen the platforms at the Green Line stations was also completed by TII towards the end of last year.