Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005
590 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Transport if he will approve the business case for the Kildare Arrow route project; if not, when he will respond to Irish Rail; if funding is available to proceed with the project from 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1870/05]
View answer591 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Transport if he has considered Irish Rail’s plan to provide a DART service on the Maynooth suburban line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1873/05]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 590 and 591 together.
Iarnród Éireann has submitted a business case to my Department for a greater Dublin integrated rail network, aimed at meeting the projected demand for rail services in the area into the future. Included in the business case are proposals to four-track the Kildare line; to electrify the Kildare and Maynooth lines; to provide an interconnector tunnel linking Heuston to the docklands; to provide a spur off the Maynooth line to Dunboyne; and to expand the capacity of the DART. The Iarnród Éireann proposals, which have a projected overall cost of €3 billion, are being assessed by my Department.
The plan is designed so that it can be implemented in stages. The first stage, the expansion of capacity on the existing DART line, is already under way and is due to be completed later this year. Specific proposals on the four-tracking of the Kildare line have also been received and are being assessed in the context of the overall plan. I expect to be in a position to respond to Iarnród Éireann regarding both the integrated plan and the Kildare route proposals in the near future.
