Sir, - It was with some considerable disappointment that I learned of the Government's recent decision not to extend the proposed light rail system from Dublin city to Sandyford industrial estate, considered to be one of the fastest growing in the country. The decision was taken at a recent meeting of the Dail Committee on Transport, where the Government parties came together to defeat the Opposition proposal which would have allowed the extension to Sandyford, as part of the first phase of the project.
Indeed it was the understanding of many people living along the old Harcourt Street line that one of the main reasons for its reopening was to connect the city centre with one of the main industrial estates outside the city. Former Ministers for Transport, including Seamus Brennan, have indicated that during their tenure in office the EU was willing to provide funding only in circumstances where a structural benefit accrued from such a project. The industrial estate link appeared to fulfil EU requirements.
The reasons for the Government's refusal to build the extension are based principally on financial constraints, a view which is widely disputed by many, not simply Opposition politicians. Despite this, it is understood that the Government has not yet examined the possibility of allowing the participation of privately invested capital in the project.
Such an initiative could provide the required expansion in resources necessary to complete the line to its sensible destination. However, before any such investment, the terms and conditions as well as the structures of the LUAS Company would have to be established and agreed by the interested parties. To date, the Minister has given no public indication of how the LUAS will be organised from a commercial perspective.
In my view, the most desirable situation would be to establish LUAS as a separate company, possessing the authority to seek and involve outside investors who would be willing to take a stake in the project. I do believe however, that the role of CIE in such a company should be minimal. I do not believe that any private investment would be attracted to a company such as LUAS, where the controlling interest was a company which has recorded annual losses in recent years in excess of £100 million.
It would appear that resources could be found if the Government was daring in its approach, hope that this opportunity to plan and construct a potential success story will not be passed over.
Yours etc.
Moreen Road,
Sandyford,
Dublin 16.