Brennan restates Luas commitment
Thursday, 28 November 2002 14:34The Minister for Transport has said Dublin's light rail system will receive the full level of funding which has been committed to its construction and completion.
Seamus Brennan described media reports suggesting that the Luas project would be delayed as a result of restrictions on the level of Government investment as 'erroneous'.
Mr Brennan said that any delays in Luas construction would not be through any funding restrictions. He said that he was disappointed at reports of some slippage in the construction and design programme.
He said the provision of ¤126.9m for next year would meet the required investment in the next phase, while a further ¤5.6m would be allocated for mobilisation costs associated with the start of the service.
The Minister was speaking at a ceremony in Dublin for the formal signing of the Luas operating contract between the Rail Procurement Agency and Connex Transport, which operates similar systems in Sweden, Germany and France.
Minister Brennan also said that an integrated ticketing system should be in place in Dublin by early 2004 when Luas services are scheduled to begin.
