To ask the Minister for Transport the extent to which the Port Tunnel development contract or contracts are within cost and on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Bernard J. Durkan.
For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 7th December, 2004.
Ref No: 32542/04

Answered by the Minister for Transport (Martin Cullen)

Reply

The planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects, including the Dublin Port Tunnel project, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) and the local authority concerned - in this case Dublin City Council.

However, I understand from the NRA and Dublin City Council that construction of the Port Tunnel is expected to be completed in December 2005 and the tunnel will be open to traffic 6/8 weeks later, following commissioning of the tunnels operations and safety features

I am informed that the current estimated final out-turn cost (including price variation to date) is €715 million (2004 prices).