Transport 21 plan - Vital for team to make a good start

Dr Margaret O'Mahony, professor of civil engineering at Trinity College Dublin, has been appointed to lead a high-powered team to help implement the Government's €34.4 billion Transport 21 plan, unveiled by Transport Minister Martin Cullen last week.

Professor O'Mahony will act as non-executive chairwoman of the team that will establish the Dublin Transport Authority (DTA).

Mr Cullen rejected opposition criticism over not having the DTA in place before last week's announcement. He contended that the first necessary steps were to have the plans drawn up and the money allocated for the mammoth project.