To ask the Minister for Transport the supervisory role of his Department in the LUAS project; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Denis Naughten. (Nominated by: Denis Naughten).
For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 28th January, 2004.
Ref No: 2296/04 Lottery: 497.836240177005
Answered by Minister for Transport
(Séamus Brennan)
REPLY
The Railway Procurement Agency, which is responsible for the delivery of the Luas project, has confirmed to me that the agency complies with the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, including conformity with the guidelines for the appraisal and management of capital expenditure in the public sector.
In addition, a Light Rail Monitoring Committee is in place comprised of representatives of my Department, the Department of Finance and the Railway Procurement Agency. It is assisted by independent technical experts who report to the Department on a monthly basis. The Railway Procurement Agency also report on programme and budgetary issues to my Department on a monthly basis.
The RPA have informed me that Luas passenger services will commence in summer 2004 and that the project is within the 691 million euro budget and risk provision as notified to the Government in 2002.
