Vol. 543 No. 5
208 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the finance which has been provided in 2001 and within the Estimates for 2002 to carry out the works contained in the DASH programme; if these proposals when completed will increase the number of trains through Connolly and/or Pearse stations at peak periods; the number of additional carriages that will be accommodated; and to give a projected timescale for the completion of this project. [28034/01]
Iarnród Éireann informs me that the stated objective of the DASH project is to increase the carrying capacity of the DART and coastal suburban rail services from 11,800 per hour to 21,100 per hour. When completed, the city centre network will be able to deal with longer trains at increased frequency through Connolly and Pearse Stations at peak periods. The works will involve additional trackwork and the upgrading of signalling and power supply, as well as increasing platform lengths to facilitate 8-car trains on the DART network. The design and planning work for the DASH project is proceeding and it is anticipated that this phase of the project will be completed in the near future. When completed, it will then be possible to determine a completion date in the light of funding from CIE's own resources and the Exchequer. A sum of £7.2 million (9.14 million) in Exchequer funding has been allocated in respect of this project in 2001. The allocation of Exchequer funding to the project in 2002 will be decided in the context of the Estimates.
