Cullen authorises construction of Luas extension from Sandyford to Cherrywood

Date: 14 August 2006

Today (Monday, 14th August, 2006), the Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen T.D., announced that he has approved the application by the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) for a Railway Order in respect of the extension of the Luas Green line from its existing terminus at Sandyford to Cherrywood.

The RPA applied to the Minister in November last for permission to undertake this project, which is part of Transport 21 and an independent Public Inquiry into the RPA’s application was held in March of this year. The report of that Inquiry was published in April.

The Minister accepted the conditions recommended in the Inspector’s report on the Public Inquiry and those conditions have been incorporated into the Railway Order which the Minister signed today.

In making his decision the Minister expressed his gratitude to James Connolly SC for the professional and thorough manner in which he carried out the Public Inquiry.

Construction on the extension is due to commence shortly and is expected to be completed in 2010.

Also today, Minister Cullen received the first copy of the public consultation document on the routes for further extension of the LUAS line from Cherrywood to the Bray area.

Minister Cullen said: “LUAS carried over 22 million passengers last year and is set to exceed this number this year, as more and more people choose to use public transport rather than their car. It is an integral part of our public transport infrastructure under Transport 21.”

ENDS

Further info:

Veronica Scanlan, (01) 6041087 or 087 6430622