Vol. 541 No. 5
191 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the lack of grant approval to upgrade the railway line from Heuston Station to Kildare, including the provision of three new stations, has led to uncertainty regarding the future of a new town at Adamstown; if she will approve this application for grant aid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23388/01]
A significant public transport investment programme is now being funded under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. The Kildare route project, designed to provide additional capacity between Kildare and Heuston to meet the predicted demand levels for rail services on the corridor in question, is one of the projects benefiting under the plan. The project is also included in the DTO strategy, A Platform for Change.
In 2001, the project was allocated an amount of £3.5 million or 4.44 million Exchequer funding to allow the necessary planning and design work to progress. I expect to receive shortly a submission from CIE seeking formal approval to further develop the project, with a view to a submission to Government.
192 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the plans she has to open or re-open railway lines for passenger traffic in the BMW region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23424/01]
I have no specific plans at present to open or re-open railway lines for passenger traffic in the BMW region. However, arising from the report, Iarnród Éireann: The Way Forward, which was published in July last, my Department will carry out a major rail strategy study to develop a long-term approach to rail services. It can be expected that the prospects for rail development in the BMW region will be examined in the course of that study, taking account of related work on the finalisation of a national spa tial strategy by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government.
