Sir, Today's Irish Times (May 12th) includes a paragraph informing us that Mr Mangan, director of Luas, stated in a conference on light rail systems that it is too late to consider reinstating the original route through Inchicore/ Kilmainham/Mount Brown.
If this be the case, would Mr Mangan please address the following:
1: Luas themselves in a comprehensive survey of the six optional routes through the area, came out overwhelmingly in favour of route one - via Tyrconnell Road, Emmet Road, Mount Brown.
2: If the Davitt Road route is adhered to then there is a blatant contravention of EU funding policy - that of installing transport systems with the aim of renewing urban areas. (DLRT report p26/ 27, Urban Environment).
3: One consequence of installing the Davitt Road option is that Inchicore/Kilmainham/Mount Brown will be affected by 65% greater pollution than it is at present, as heavy traffic is diverted through the area to make room for the tram on Davitt Road. On the other hand, if route option one is kept, the pollution levels in the area will fall by 65% from the current level a difference of 130%.
4: There was no comprehensive door to door survey of public opinion by Luas.
5: It is currently estimated that the cost of running the tram down Davitt Road route option three will be £86,000 per year more than open one.
6: Well over three thousand residents of Inchicore/Kilmainham/ Mount Brown have signed their names to a petition requesting that the original route be kept in place.
On March 5th this year Jim Mitchell, TD, stated "that the debate is not over yet and that the formal declaration of the proposed new line has not yet been made public, and even when it has it will then be a matter of hearings by public inquiry". We are told that the public inquiry will be in the autumn.
Luas is a State funded body acting under Government directive are we to understand that they have preempted the public inquiry and made an independent decision?
In who's interest is Mr Mangan speaking? - Yours etc.,
North Terrace,
Dublin 8.