Minister gives assurance on Luas routes

THE Luas Dublin Light Rail Bill passed its final stages. The Minister of State for Transport, Ms Avril Doyle, assured deputies that the routes were not "written in tablets of stone" and that no decision would be taken until after the project team reported.

The Bill was simply an enabling measure. "No route is included or precluded", she said.

They were limited, however, by the £220 million available for starting the system and if all the extensions called for were included, such as Sandyford and the Dublin main line rail stations, it would become too costly. The Sandyford extension from Dundrum would cost an extra £15 million. She agreed that "we should ensure that sufficient funds, are made available to eventually have an integrated system".

It would be a tragedy, however, if the scheme was delayed to the point where it did not get under way. "We have spent long enough looking at options.

The Fianna Fail spokesman on transport, Mr Seamus Brennan, said the Bill provided for no consultation, no costings and no integration with the rest of the transport system.

Ms Frances Fitzgerald (FG, Dublin South East) said the scheme should go ahead but there should be ongoing consultations with the groups affected.

Mr Joe Costello (Lab, Dublin Central) said the principle of integration and the Ballymun extension should be included and there should be no question of demolishing homes or causing people to lose their jobs in the inner city.

Mr Alan Shatter (FG, Dublin South) said the Sandyford extension should be included.

Mr Liam Kavanagh (Lab, Wicklow) said the scheme was welcome but would, be far from a solution to Dublin's traffic problems.

Mr Michael McDowell (PD, Dublin, South East) said he was pro rail and favoured opening the Harcourt Street line, but he wanted an integrated system. "We should not be mesmerised by a tranche of European money to do a bad job."

The stand alone scheme now proposed would not attract passengers from Rathfarnham and other areas to Dundrum to avail of a rail link to the city.

The Bill was passed by 64 votes to 53. It now goes to the Seanad.