Vol. 486 No. 6
142 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will make a special grant available to allow for a feasibility study to be undertaken into the establishment of a rapid rail transport system serving the outskirts of Cork city including passage to Monkstown, Ballincollig and Blarney. [3250/98]
147 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the approaches, if any, that have been made to her Department by Iarnród Éireann in relation to restoring a railway service from the Cork to Youghal line, or at least the Cork to Midleton component of it. [3382/98]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 142 and 147 together.
The position in relation to the planning and provision of public transport services in the Cork area is as set out in my reply to Question No. 50 of 5 February last.
143 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will request the Dublin Transportation Office to set up a project group to examine and promote the use of heavy rail in the greater Dublin area, in view of the response by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to Parliamentary Question No. 651 of 28 January 1998; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3107/98]
The Dublin Transportation Office is an independent body set up under the auspices of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to co-ordinate and monitor the implementation of the Dublin Transportation Initiative strategy. It is a matter for the steering committee of the Dublin Transportation Office to decide on its work programme within the terms of its establishment order.
The examination and promoton of heavy rail services is primarily a matter for Iarnród Éireann. I have asked the company to prepare detailed investment plans for both the mainline and suburban rail networks in the context of securing EU or other funding in the post-1999 period. I expect to receive the relevant reports in the near future. These reports will provide the basis for determining the future rail investment programme.
The Dublin Transportation Office has also recently decided to undertake a review and updating of the Dublin Transportation Initiative strategy and this will undoubtedly address the role of the railway in that overall strategy. The review phase, which focuses on short-term measures is expected to be completed by end April.
