The inspector's report on the month-long public inquiry into CIE's plans for a Luas light rail line linking Tallaght and the city centre may be presented to the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, before Christmas.
Judge Sean O'Leary, who conducted the inquiry, said at its conclusion yesterday in Dublin that he would produce his report and recommendations "as quickly as possible" after he had studied all the documentation and submissions.
Assuming the report was favourable, if it was submitted by Christmas, the Minister would then be in a position to approve the scheme by March 1st to allow preliminary works to begin as early as next autumn.
Mr Maurice Gaffney SC, for CIE, said it was entirely a matter for the inspector to consider what weight he assigned to submissions made on behalf of all of the parties at the inquiry, including those who did not give evidence under oath.
Over the past 20 sitting days, he said, it would have become clear that CIE was "starting out on a new road, a new adventure really," in proposing a light rail line from Tallaght to Abbey Street, which would help "in a small way" to relieve some of Dublin's problems.
Mr Gaffney paid tribute to all of those who had taken the trouble to attend the inquiry and he said the CIE team was "overcome with admiration and gratitude at the way it was conducted" by Judge O'Leary and his staff.
Among the outstanding items dealt with yesterday were such issues as whether CIE would need a licence from the Environmental Protection Agency for the extensive light rail depot which it is planning to build on the south-west side of the Red Cow roundabout.
Another issue raised was whether the construction work on the line would be carried out after dark, causing possible disruption to people living along the route. The operating hours of the Luas line and whether it would run after midnight were also raised.
The inspector also sought clarification from CIE on whether the Red Cow depot would comply with South Dublin County Council's development plan, under which the site is zoned as part of the green belt separating the Kingswood area of Tallaght from Clondalkin.
Mr Gaffney said that, in CIE's view, it would qualify as an "exempt development" if approved by the Minister for Public Enterprise on foot of the public inquiry and inspector's report. This may be one of the issues tested if the Minister's decision is challenged in the courts.
Judge O'Leary paid particular tribute to those who had taken time off from their work, saying they had "served the public well". CIE and its experts "did what they were paid to do" in presenting a "most professional case" to the inquiry.
