An Taisce, South Dublin County Council, South Dublin Chamber of Commerce and the Green Party have all expressed a broad welcome - with some reservations - for the planned light rail transit system between Tallaght and Dublin city-centre.
At the public inquiry into the light rail option in Dublin yesterday, Mr Muiris O'Keeffe, for South Dublin County Council, said while the council "fully supports the concept of the LRT system as put forward by CIE", it had expressed dissatisfaction with certain elements of the project.
These included the location of the proposed depot and administration building on green belt lands at Fox & Geese and the proposed termination of the LRT at Tallaght town centre, rather than at Oldbawn-Aylesbury, as originally envisaged.
Mr O'Keeffe added that while a number of other matters had to be addressed "the council is satisfied that most, if not all . . . can be progressed through discussion".
Ms Jeanne Meldon, a planning consultant with An Taisce, said if LRT was to operate effectively, it should result in a decrease in citycentre traffic. However, more detailed consideration should be given to an alternative route either north of Arran Quay Terrace, in the north inner city, or routing along the quays.
On the design of the light rail stops, Ms Meldon said the detail "should be carefully nuanced to take account of the particular local context" - the Georgian-Victorian streetscape, existing cutstone bridges etc.
Mr Wilhelm Bodewigs, transport spokesman of the Connacht-Ulster Federation of the Green Party, described LRT as "in many respects a major step in the modernisation of Dublin's transport system". He argued that light rail in Dublin must be seen as a key investment into a nationwide transport system.
"We must understand rail-based transport systems as the backbone of an urban and spatial transport system."
In its submission, the South Dublin Chamber of Commerce welcomed this "vital" component of the overall transport initiative for Dublin city and county. While the scheme would provide a major enabling part of its vision for south Dublin, the chamber had many questions as to parking and access.
The chamber also recommended a "programme which allows for compensation to business operators who can clearly show that their income has been adversely affected by the construction phase of the project".