Vol. 564 No. 5
314 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Transport if further consideration will be given to the provision of a rail network from Dublin to Navan and on to Kingscourt, County Cavan, which could service the Meath, east Cavan and south Monaghan areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10102/03]
The Dublin Transportation Office strategy document A Platform for Change recommends that, based on projected population and employment levels, a rail line to Navan be constructed from the Maynooth line near Clonsilla via Dunboyne in the period post 2010.
The recently published strategic rail review provides a strategic policy framework for the future development of the rail passenger and rail freight sectors in Ireland, based on future land use development as proposed in the national spatial strategy. The report includes an assessment of many rail proposals which took account of the submissions received as part of a public consultation process. A rail link from Navan to Kingscourt is not among the many proposals assessed by the consultants. I understand also from Iarnród Éireann that the development of such a line is not among the company's current priorities.
