Dublin Metro
131. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the technical reasons for the two Luas lines not being connected via an overground line between Westmoreland Street, College Green and Dawson Street; the most likely location for the proposed underground city centre metro to resurface and connect to the former Harcourt Street rail line; and if an overground city centre Luas extension from O’Connell Street to St. Stephen’s Green or Harcourt Street will lead to increased patronage on the Luas line from Tallaght even if not fully connected into the former Harcourt Street line due to the introduction of a metro. [20555/04]
Mr. Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 41, 50, 65, 77 and 131 together.
The programme for Government contains a commitment to develop a metro with a link to Dublin Airport. I have received from the Railway Procurement Agency the revised outline business case for line 1 of the metro, which involves a line from the airport to the city centre. The total estimated direct capital cost of construction in 2002 prices is €1.2 billion.
Integration of public transport services in the greater Dublin area is being pursued within the broad policy framework of the Dublin Transportation Office’s Platform for Change. In this regard, the possibility of a connection with the Tallaght and Sandyford Luas lines is being considered in the context of the first phase of the metro project from the city centre to the airport. The timescale, precise cost and route, number and location of stations and arrangements for connections with the Luas lines will depend on a number of factors including the final Government decision, geo-technical surveys, negotiations with bidders and railway order processes including a public inquiry. The merits of all alternative solutions and routes will be considered in the preparation of a submission for the Government on the matter.
I welcome the Joint Committee on Transport’s recent report on the proposal for a Dublin metro system, which was a valuable contribution to the debate on this issue. In particular, I welcome the recommendation in favour of a metro system with a connection to the airport. I am finalising my proposals on the metro in the context of the wider transport needs of the greater Dublin area. I expect the Government to finalise proposals on the metro in the near future.