I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 130 together.
The Dublin-Sligo line is included in an EU co-financed investment programme in mainline and suburban rail over the period 1996-99. This programme will cost £73.3 million and the European Commission has allocated £62.3 million in grant aid at a rate of 85 per cent from the EU Cohesion Fund.
Of the £73.3 million package, £12.5 million was allocated to upgrading track on the Dublin-Sligo line. The work involves the replacement of life expired jointed track on timber sleepers with continuous welded rail on concrete sleepers. It is being undertaken on the Dublin-Mullingar section of the route. Up to the beginning of September 1997 spending on this project amounted to approximately £3.5 million.
A further £14 million was allocated to the replacement of an outdated mechanical signalling system on four routes, including Sligo, with a new, modern, cost-effective and centralised control system. The work on the Sligo line will be undertaken on the Maynooth-Sligo section of the route. The total package of investment is scheduled for completion by the end of 1999.
I have no function in relation to the details of railway investment other than the EU-funded programme. The non co-financed programme, and its implementation, is a matter solely for CIE and Iarnród Éireann.