Seán Sherlock
Question:227. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the status of a business case for a project (details supplied). [1124/22]
View answerWednesday, 19 January 2022
Questions (227)
Written answers
The Cork Light Rail project is actually at an earlier stage of development than Preliminary Business Case stage as referred to by the Deputy.
As previously informed, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has submitted the Strategic Assessment Report for Cork Light Rail to my Department, as required under the Public Spending Code. This is known as Decision Gate 0 under the Code and precedes the formal development of a Preliminary Business Case. My Department is currently engaging with the NTA on the matter.
The Code stipulates that the Strategic Assessment Report must be reviewed by my Department and the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform. It will then be submitted for my approval as this Decision Gate is a Ministerial approval point rather than a Governmental one.
I can inform the Deputy that at project level an options selection study is underway to inform the development of an ‘Emerging Preferred Route’ which will then be subject to non-statutory public consultation later this year.