Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 24 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 6

Written Answers. - Rail Network.

David Stanton

Ceist:

129 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise further to Parliamentary Question No. 43 of 17 October 2001, the projected cost of the feasibility study to be undertaken by Iarnród Éireann into the technical, commercial and economic aspects of the proposal to re-open the rail link to Midleton; the company or companies commissioned to carry out this study; when she expects the feasibility study to be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25655/01]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke):

As I indicated in my reply to Question No. 43 of 17 October, Iarnród Éireann has undertaken to carry out a feasibility study on the potential for re-opening the rail line to Midleton and for developing rail services to Blarney on the adoption by the local authorities of the Cork area strategic plan. The study has not yet been put out to tender and so the information requested by the Deputy is not yet available.

David Stanton

Ceist:

130 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if further to Parliamentary Question No. 8 of 17 October 2001, approval has been given to purchase the 20 new main line carriages mentioned in the reply; if orders have been placed for these carriages; if so, the company or companies supplying these carriages; when she expects these carriages to be in operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25656/01]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke):

Iarnród Éireann is currently evaluating tenders for the acquisition of new mainline rail carriages and, as the Deputy will appreciate, pending the outcome of this detailed evaluation process, no decision has been taken on a supplier nor has a contract been placed. When the evaluation process has been completed, I expect to receive formal proposals from the company for approval. The timescale from placing an order to delivery is likely to be approximately two years.