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Rail Network.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2004

Tuesday, 7 December 2004

Questions (78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)

Brian O'Shea

Question:

97 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Transport the details of the proposed new rail service for Dublin’s docklands; the estimated total cost of the line and station; the contribution which will be made by the private sector; when construction of a new rail service will commence; the completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32344/04]

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Brendan Howlin

Question:

101 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Transport if he is considering extending the DART line to Maynooth and Dunboyne; when a decision will be made on such proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32331/04]

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Róisín Shortall

Question:

104 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to recent claims from Iarnród Éireann that its network will become clogged within eight years unless a tunnel linking Connolly and Heuston Stations is built; if he has completed his consideration of this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32328/04]

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Phil Hogan

Question:

113 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Transport if further funding for station construction and track upgrades will be provided within the remaining three years of the five years’ capital funding envelope granted to Iarnród Éireann in view of the fact that €5 million has been provided in the 2005 Estimates for the design work on a new train station to be located in the Dublin docklands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32031/04]

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Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

215 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport his plans for the expansion of the commuter rail network in County Kildare with particular reference to increased demand due to population expansion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32538/04]

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Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

220 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport his priorities for the expansion of the commuter rail network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32544/04]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 97, 101, 104, 113, 215 and 220 together.

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 50 which I answered earlier. To provide an integrated rail network in the greater Dublin area, Iarnród Éireann submitted proposals to my Department in July 2004 for a €3.5 billion investment for the following: to four-track the Kildare line; electrification of the Kildare and Maynooth lines; an interconnector tunnel linking Heuston to the docklands; a spur off the Maynooth line to Dunboyne; expanding the capacity of the DART. The Iarnród Éireann proposals are being assessed by my Department at present, although in the case of the DART the capacity of the system is being increased.

In addition, the Railway Procurement Agency has submitted to my Department a detailed business case for a metro from the city centre to Dublin Airport and is advancing plans for extension of the Luas to the docklands and Cherrywood. The Department is awaiting business plans from the RPA to assist in its evaluation of both Luas extensions. The RPA has also considered a preliminary analysis of the feasibility and cost of linking both Luas lines in the city centre and a more detailed proposal is now being prepared for consideration by the RPA board before its submission to my Department.

Overall, the various proposals are being considered in the context of the developing needs of public transport in the greater Dublin area, the framework outlined on the Dublin Transportation Office, Platform for Change, the recently adopted regional planning guidelines for the greater Dublin area and the extended ten year multi-annual capital investment envelope for transport announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget Statement.

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