Vol. 505 No. 1
28 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the position regarding proposed upgrading of the rail services to which she has allocated finance; the degree to which these works have been carried out; if her Department has monitored progress on these development works; the amount of moneys spent; the funds remaining to be spent; if the works will be sufficient to meet requirements in 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13034/99]
Iarnród Éireann is currently engaged in the largest ever investment programme in the history of the railway. Projects involving EU or specific Exchequer funding will account for expenditure of just over £300 million in the period 1994 to 2000. Approximate expenditure amounts to £170 million in the period 1994 to 1998 and a further £130 million in 1999-2000.
These projects are closely monitored by my Department. In overall terms there are sufficient projects identified to draw the available funding. However, as we approach the end of the programme period there may be need for some, relatively small, adjustments. This is a normal part of the monitoring process and, where EU funding is involved, it is conducted in consultation with the EU Commission. In such cases, contracts must be signed by the end of this year and expenditure incurred by the end of the year 2000.
In addition the company undertakes expenditure on both safety investment and development projects which do not receive direct EU or Exchequer support and are not specifically monitored by my Department.
