Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 2

Written Answers. - Rail Network.

Michael Ring

Question:

172 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the current position with regard to the rail line from Athlone, County Westmeath, to Westport, County Mayo; the funding that has been put in place for this rail section; the amount of money it would cost to get all the tracks from Athlone to Westport upgraded; and the funding that has been spent on that section of rail track for each of the past five years. [22149/00]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke):

Between 1994 and 1999 approximately £10 million was spent renewing 24 miles of track on the Dublin-Westport line as follows:

1994	£1.0 million
1995	£2.0million
1996	£1.0million
1997	–
1998	£1.0million
1999	£5.0million
Total	£10.0million

The programme is continuing in 2000 when 13.5 miles will be renewed. It is planned to renew 30 miles next year and complete the final eight miles to Westport in 2002.

The total cost of track upgrading will be approximately £30 million of which £10 million was spent up to the end of 1999. A further £20 million is committed to the project and funding for this has been included in the national development plan under the mainline rail safety investment programme.