I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 to 261, inclusive, 265 and 268 together.
There has been major investment in recent years in expanding the number and capacity of commuter services on the Kildare and Maynooth lines.
The provision of turnback facilities at Newbridge, the extension of platforms at Sallins and Hazelhatch and the introduction of new rolling stock on the Kildare route as part of the increased investment in public transport under the NDP 2000-2006 have increased capacity on the Kildare route by 160%.
Capacity on the Maynooth line has been more than trebled in the last five years due to the doubling of the track, resignalling and the upgrading of stations and crossings.
There are now 35 services per day in each direction serving Maynooth and approximately the same number in each direction serving stations on the Kildare line.
Irish Rail have implemented further recent improvements to their services with the introduction of their new timetable on 14 January 2007 which included the introduction, for the first time, of scheduled Sunday commuter services on the Kildare commuter line with services operating five times each way, at approximately two hour intervals.
In addition, Maynooth line Sunday service frequencies were further improved, with hourly services operating on the half hour from 09.30hrs to 18.30hrs from Dublin Pearse, and services operating approximately every hour from 10.30hrs to 19.30hrs from Maynooth.
A number of major projects being funded under Transport 21 will further improve rail services in Co. Kildare. The Docklands station, which is due to open in March, will facilitate extra services on the Maynooth line. The introduction of a fleet of modern intercity railcars to be delivered in the period 2007 to 2009 will release commuter railcars currently being used on intercity routes such as Sligo-Dublin and Rosslare — Dublin for use on the Maynooth line amongst others. The Kildare Route Project, which involves four tracking a section of track from Cherry Orchard to Hazlehatch, will enable the separation of long distance and commuter services thus reducing travel times and offering operational flexibility to increase the amount of services provided. As part of that project upgraded stations and increased parking capacity are to be provided.
Feeder bus services to/from, and car parking facilities at, commuter rail stations are operational matters for Iarnród Éireann. However, in 2006 and 2007 my Department has allocated funding to Iarnród Éireann for:
expansion/improvement works at the car park serving Leixlip-Louisabridge railway station to increase the total car parking available at the station by 290 spaces;
expansion/improvement works at the car park serving Newbridge railway station to increase the total car parking available at the station by 300 spaces;
the planning and design of upgraded car parking facilities at other stations in county Kildare, including Kildare and Athy.
In addition, car park provision will form part of major new railway infrastructure works such as the Kildare Route Project.