The Government has appointed consultants Arthur Andersen and Steer Davies Gleave to advise on options for a Public Private Partnership approach to the Dublin Light Rail Project (LUAS).

The study is the first to assess the realistic options for part-funding the project with finance from investors in the private sector.

Arthur Andersen partner, Mr Brian Dunne, said the Public Private Partnership could be structured in a number of different ways and the two consultancies will be seeking to recommend the most appropriate model for the project. The cost of the total LUAS network has been estimated by the Government to be more than £400 million. The proportion of this total cost which can be generated from the private sector will depend on the size of operating margins on the proposed routes.

Steer Davies Gleave is a transport consultancy which has expertise in the commercial, financial and economic appraisal of transport systems, operations and companies.

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