I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 129 together.
I have been assured by Iarnród Éireann that rail safety is the company's main priority. I am aware of the discomfort and delays which passengers have experienced recently on the Maynooth to Dublin rail service. The Department's railway inspecting officer — there will soon be two others — has been in contact with Iarnród Éireann regarding the potential safety implications of overcrowding.
The investment package, which was the bounty from Luas, will alleviate the current difficulties experienced by passengers. The measures being funded in the Maynooth corridor out of the £63 million include: extra rail cars, two additional services on the Maynooth line during morning and evening peak times, the doubling of the track between Clonsilla and Maynooth, resignalling of the Maynooth line and lengthening of station platforms. Iarnród Éireann has advised me that a comprehensive engineering assessment of the line between Maynooth and the city centre has been completed and additional rail cars will be in service shortly. The company will review the timetable in early January with a view to increasing the frequency of services. Luas gave rise to much angst——