The updated Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2011-2030 has been analysed at a meeting of the Oireachtas Environment, Transport Culture and the Gaeltacht Committee.

Senior officials from the National Transport Authority (NTA) attended the Committee to outline to members the plans contained in the Strategy and any changes made since it was opened to public consultation earlier this year.

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The original strategy contained significant plans for Dublin's transport infrastructure including: Implementation of both Metro North and Metro West; a new Luas line from Lucan to the city centre and extending the Luas Green Line to Bray; Dart Underground; an additional rail track between Balbriggin and Connolly, Cherry Orchard and Inchicore and further development of smart card technology; and Transition to an integrated zone based fare system.

Committee Chairman, Ciaran Lynch TD said: "We are keen to determine the current status of these plans considering the present straitened times.

"We are examining the costs of some of these projects including Metro North to ascertain whether they are viable financially and environmentally," he said.

(BMcN)