A €750k Luas bill for Rising party clean-up

Traff ic chaos to stop, for now, to impress tourists but strike threat not yet ruled out

THE Luas works that have blighted Dublin streets in recent times are coming to an end for the 1916 celebrations – but only temporarily.

Dubliners have been delighted to see the trenches, hoarding and pipe-laying that scar the city centre from College Green to Parnell Square disappearing at a cost of €750,000, as dignitaries and tourists arrive.

But as soon as the commemorations are over, the barriers, noise and workmen will return. Many trenches have already been temporarily filled and work has stopped at various sites. Other sites will stop works in the coming days.

But despite the respite, further strike disruption of the Luas could be on the way as more than 250 Luas drivers could reject a

‘It was agreed that we would remove the sites’

proposed pay rise of almost 19% when they vote on Thursday. They are understood to be unhappy that the rise does not include increased company pension contributions, an improved annual bonus or a new medical insurance scheme.

A spokeswoman for the National Transport Agency, which is overseeing the Luas construction, has defended the €750,000 cost of temporarily filling in the trenches, saying it was included in the tender.

‘As part of the original contract with the track-laying contractors it was agreed we would remove sites for the celebrations – all of this was set out a number of years ago as we knew the celebrations would happen during some of the track-laying works,’ she said.

‘We’ve been working closely with all the agencies including An Garda Síochána, NTA, DCC, festival organisers, public transport firms and business organisations to agree the timing of our works to facilitate the St Patrick’s festival and the 1916 commemorations.’

The works are needed to link the Green and Red Luas lines with new tram tracks being laid across the city. Two additional stops are being created on O’Connell Street, one at the GPO and the other in the Upper O’Connell Street area.

The work sites being removed or reduced to cater for the celebrations are as follows:

There will be no works at O’Connell Street/O’Connell Bridge/ Westmoreland Street/College Green until April 4.

On Parnell Street the site outside the Rotunda Hospital will be removed and remaining works will be reduced until March 29.

On Marlborough Street, between Parnell Street and Cathal Brugha Street, the work site area will be reduced from March 24 to 29.

On Marlborough Street, between Cathal Brugha Street and Eden Quay there will be no works from March 24 to 29.

On Hawkins Street and the east end of College Street there will be no works from March 24 to 29.

On the west end of College Street there will be no works until March 29. All work sites are expected to resume by April 4, and the project remains on schedule.

In recent weeks, the Luas has been repeatedly stalled by strike action, but the deal reached during the week could end the dispute.

The proposed settlement terms provide for pay rises up to three times more than those being paid in most workplaces and has sparked ‘catch-up’ claims by other public transport workers in Iarnród Éireann and bus drivers in Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann.

Their unions are now seeking pay rises of up to 25% which will be discussed in negotiations at the Labour Court starting on Tuesday.

The Luas drivers are still scheduled to take strike action on Easter Sunday and Monday, as well as on April 1, 2, 23 and 24. These strikes will only be called off if workers accept the terms negotiated by their union leaders. Workers in both Luas depots – Red Cow and Sandyford – will vote on Thursday but it’s believed the more militant drivers may hold out for the extra pensions and bonus benefits.

Luas owner Transport Infrastructure Ireland said that it will not raise fares to help pay for the offered pay rises of up to 18.7% spread over 33 months. Current payroll costs amount to €13m a year but this may rise by over €2m if the workers accept the offer.

Luas workers have yet to

vote to prevent strikes