Luas to Lucan is not in government plans
By Brendan Grehan
THE PLANNED Luas to Lucan has not been included in the Government’s recent Mid Term Capital Plan (2016-2021). A local TD was informed of this in a response to a parliamentary question.
Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross if his submission regarding the mid term capital plan included plans for the Luas Lucan project.
Minister Ross replied: “The development of the east-west Luas line from Lucan, while part of the longer-term transport strategy for the GDA, will not be progressed within the lifetime of the current capital plan”.
Deputy Curran told The Echo: “I was hoping that the Government would revisit the planned Luas Line to Lucan in this year’s Mid Term Capital Review considering the traffic congestion in Lucan, the N4, the M50 and the Greater Dublin Area. It is very disappointing the Government has decided not to include the Luas to Lucan in this year’s Capital Plan 2016 – 2021.”
Deputy Curran said Minister Ross had informed that an east-west Luas to Lucan is envisaged for the longer term transport plan for the Greater Dublin Area.
He added: “It looks like it could be 20 years before even the planning process begins on the Lucan Luas project and that is simply not good enough, while traffic chaos grips commuters in Lucan.
“Accident’s on the M50 can cause city-wide traffic chaos, it is clear that the lack of good quality public transport in Dublin is a huge factor in the cause of gridlock when there is an accident.
“This is short sighted. I plan to continue to raise the issue of transport infrastructure for the Greater Dublin Area in Dáil Éireann.”
