THE EU would still give Dublin transport funds even if Luas was, abandoned, the Dublin MEP, Mr Niall Andrews (FF), has said.
"Almost £122 million has been allocated in EU structural funds, for the construction of a light rail transit system in Dublin under the current round of funding, due to end in 1999.
"If the Government contends that the (Luas) project must be built right away or else runs the risk of losing EU assistance for the initiative, the Government is failing to recognise that the European Commissioner, Neil Kinnock, would be very flexible in taking a fresh look at transport improvement measures for Dublin city," he said yesterday.
He said the Luas project would leave Dublin with two separate rapid transit systems with no connection between them "which is daft to say the least". Insufficient consideration had been given to putting parts of the system underground. Other transport improvement measures should also have been considered before deciding on Luas.
He condemned the "ill conceived, hurried and haphazard manner" in which the Minister for Transport, Mr Lowry, was pushing through Luas. Consultation procedures were so minimal as to be non existing.
Any project which would cause such traffic congestion should have all stages scrutinised and analysed so as to guarantee an enhanced transport infrastructure. "I strongly believed that the Luas project as it stands now is severely flawed and is going to exacerbate, increase and multiply Dublin city's existing traffic problems."
It was incredible that Dublin Airport would not be serviced by a rail system which could be financed partly by private capital.
"If the Luas project proceeds as planned, we run the risk of constructing the greatest economic white elephant for years," he said.