To ask the Minister for Transport the supervision role of his Department in the LUAS project; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- John Deasy. (Nominated by: Denis Naughten).
For ORAL answer on Tuesday, 2nd March, 2004.
Identical Question(s): 20
Ref No: 6609/04
Answered by Minister for Transport
(Séamus Brennan)
REPLY
As you are aware, the Railway Procurement Agency is responsible for the delivery of the Luas project. The Agency has confirmed to me that it 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.
A Light Rail Monitoring Committee is in place and is comprised of representatives of my Department, the Department of Finance and the Railway Procurement Agency. Independent technical experts who report to the Department on a monthly basis, assist the Light Rail Monitoring Committee. The RPA also report on programme and budgetary issues to my Department on a monthly basis.
Luas passenger services will commence on the Tallaght Line end of August 2004 and on the Sandyford line end of June 2004. The RPA have informed me that the project is within the 691 million euro budget and 84 million euro risk provision as notified to the Government in 2002.
