Sir, - To understand why the Dundrum section of the LUAS project is proceeding before the Ballymun section, we must firstly go back to the previous Fianna Fail led government. More particularly to the debate about how much in regional development funds Ireland would receive from the EU commission. Following the confusion arising out of this debate, only two LRT lines could be funded, under the first round of EU regional funds rather than three. A Minister for Transport, the Fianna Fail TD, Brian Cowan, chose Tallaght and Dundrum before Ballymun.
Since then CIE have been working on detailed geo technical and topographical studies for the Tallaght and Dundrum lines. I understand they have now completed this work. However, no such work has been completed on the Ballymun line. To switch lines now would lead to such a delay that neither line would come under the time frame necessary to be supported by the European Regional Development Fund.
In effect, any campaign to have the Ballymun section completed before the Dundrum line, will at this stage, only lead to the abandonment of both projects or to the projects being totally funded by Irish taxpayers.
There are, of course, sound economic and social reasons for ensuring the Ballymun section of the LUAS project is completed. I would therefore suggest that those who are genuinely interested in the completion of the Ballymun section of LUAS, to put all their efforts into insuring that the technical preparatory work necessary for the Ballymun line is carried out by CIE as soon as possible. This will ensure that the Ballymun section of LUAS comes within the necessary EU timeframe. Trying to change decisions which were made by the last government will not have the desired effect. - Yours, etc.,
Secretary, Democratic Left,
Dublin North West,
Main Street,
Finglas,
Dublin 11.