The decision by the Minster for Transport Mr Martin Cullen to join the two Luas lines is a "breathtaking insult to the Dublin public", according to Ms Olivia Mitchell of Fine Gael
"Does Minister Cullen really think that the public memory is so short it has forgotten that six years ago this very same link was dropped as 'inadequate and impractical'?" Ms Mitchell asked.
In what is seen as a significant change in transport priorities, Mr Cullen said he hoped work on joining Dublin's two Luas lines in the city centre will be "well under way" by 2007.
The lines were supposed to have been connected, but following a review of the project, ordered by former minister for transport Mrs Mary O'Rourke, it was decided not to link them.
The Labour Party transport spokeswoman, Ms Roisín Shortall called the decision "bizarre".
She said: "Rather than simply joining up the two Luas lines, we need a little joined-up thinking from the government on the whole question of public transport," Ms Shortall said.
"There are clearly a number of technical problems that would arise, particularly how it would be possible to accommodate both Luas trams and buses on fairly narrow streets," Ms Shortall added.
According to the Rail Procurement Agency the building work would take 18 months and cost under €100 million.
