Cost of Luas reduced says Brennan

Taxpayers could save up to €1.4bn on the cost of the Dublin Metro system.

A cabinet commitee, which included the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, were told by a delegation from Madrid today that their system is up and running for one ninth of the proposed cost of the Dublin project.

The estimated cost has now been reduced from €2.2 bn to €1.5 bn.

However, Mr Brennan also warned that to secure those savings Dubliners would have to accept a reduction by up to two years in the consultative process.

He said he intended to introduce legislation to that effect if necessary.

Mr Brennan said the Sandyford to St Stephen's Green line is set to open in June 2004. The Tallaght to Connolly Station line should be operating by August 2004.

Minister Brennan also repeated his belief that there should be competition in the Dublin bus market.

Last week, the CIÉ unions group announced plans for a series of work stoppages for the Autumn in protest at the Minister's plans to break up CIÉ. The first day of action on 18 July will see all CIÉ workers refuse to collect fares.

Aer Lingus in contact over US routes

Mr Brennan told the Dáil that he has been contacted by Aer Lingus a number of times with a view to changing the current bilateral agreement which governs flights between Ireland and the United States.

Fine Gael TD Pat Breen asked if the changes had been sought to facilitate services to Orlando and San Francisco direct from Dublin.

Mr Brennan said Aer Lingus wanted another five or six US gateways, and they feel they could not achieve this under the present arrangement.