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The Irish Independent has learned that a decision
on whether the planned Metro North for Dublin will go ahead
is unlikely to be made until early next year.
The Government has indicated it would not approve the light-rail
system until the final cost of building the 17km line was
known, despite the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) having
already spent €33m on the project.
The company which wins the contract to design, build and
operate the system will not be announced until November, after
which it will negotiate with the RPA over a final price. This
process could run into early 2009, sources said.
In addition, any delay to the project could have serious
knock-on effects. The Ballymun Regeneration Scheme, expansion
of Dublin Airport, development of a new town of 100,000 people
in Swords and retail outlets like Ikea, are all relying on
the train route - and, if it is put on the long finger, it
could have a 'damaging impact on Ireland Inc', industry
sources said.
An Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD refused to say if the project
- announced in 2006 under the Government's Transport 21
programme - would go ahead. Speaking in Tullamore, he said
that major projects had to be "considered and approved at
the relevant time on the basis of the fullest possible information
available" - adding - "There's no suggestion that we made
a decision not to proceed with the Metro North."
Metro North will run from St Stephen's Green to Lissenhall,
north of Swords - via Dublin Airport - and is expected
to cost at least €3bn. Planning permission will be sought
in September and work is due to begin in 2009 with a four-year
timetable.
The Department of Transport confirmed that at least two cost-benefit
analyses had been carried out - one by the RPA and a second
by the Department of Finance.
The RPA said it had spent €33m on design, ground investigations,
utility mapping and preparing an Environmental Impact Statement
and that the economic case for Metro "greatly exceeded" its
costs.
Source - The Irish Independent
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