Vol. 498 No. 3
11 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will provide sufficient moneys to allow for the upgrading of the railway track from Waterford to Dublin to allow an express service to operate between the capital and Waterford to cover the journey in line times comparative to the Cork to Dublin line. [27057/98]
An additional £2 million was provided for track renewal on this line as part of the reallocation of Luas EU aid. This means that by end 2000 all of the track from Cherryville to Kilkenny will have been renewed and signalling on the whole line to Waterford will have been upgraded.
The question of additional funding for the line will be addressed in two ways. The high level task force on railway safety will report with its prioritised safety investment recommendations by end January. Preliminary work is also under way on a national development plan in preparation for Ireland's application for EU assistance in the post-1999 period. My Department has put forward a submission to the Department of Finance setting out public transport investment requirements. Further investment on the renewal of the Waterford line was included in that submission.
