Vol. 500 No. 6
47 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the plans, if any, she has to allocate funding to allow Iarnród Éireann to purchase additional rolling stock in view of the serious over crowding on the northern suburban line between Dublin and Balbriggan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4633/99]
A number of initiatives have been taken to improve capacity on the northern suburban line.
Iarnród Éireann has from its own resources purchased 27 carriages which are being delivered on a phased basis to the company. Sixteen of these carriages will replace older rolling stock on the northern line and give a net increase in capacity.
In addition I announced an investment package of £63 million for Dublin suburban rail in June 1998. As a result of this, EU and Exchequer funding is being provided to purchase 20 diesel rail carriages at a total cost of £20 million of which six will be used to increase train lengths on the northern suburban line.
Funding has also been provided to enable the extension of the DART line to Malahide and to facilitate the purchase of additional DART rolling stock.
