The Minister for Transport, Séamus Brennan, has conceded that the first Luas trains will not run in Dublin until next year, despite firm promises before last summer's general election that the system would be launched during 2003.
Minister Brennan also admitted that the latest estimated cost for completing Luas was €691m, an increase of €16m from initial estimates.
Speaking in Dublin he announced that he is to publish monthly reports on budgets and completion dates for major infrastructure projects funded by his department.
