Railway Procurement Agency

Railway Procurement Agency (Irish: An Ghníomhaireacht um Fháil Iarnród) is a state board in the Republic of Ireland charged with the development of light railway and metro infrastructure. It was established in December 2001 under the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001.

Related Topics:
Irish - Republic of Ireland - Light rail - Metro

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Much of the staff of the agency came from the Light Rail Project Office of Coras Iompair Éireann, which office was dissolved upon the RPA's inception. The agency operates completely independently of CIÉ.

Related Topics:
Light Rail Project Office - Coras Iompair Éireann

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The agency has proved controversial during its short life. Early on the CIÉ project director of Luas, Donal Mangan, toook legal action against: he felt that he had the right to be its chief executive. For two years the agency paid his salary and gave him an office, even though the chief executive's position had been filled by Frank Allen. The agency has also come under criticism for the cost of the Luas light rail system. This had led to calls for the planned Dublin Metro system to be developed by a different agency.

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The agency's main role is overseeing the operation of the Luas system. This is operated for the agency by Connex.

Related Topics:
Luas - Connex

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The agency has no role in the mainline railway system, which is operated by Iarnrod Éireann (a subsidiary of CIÉ).

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