Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

A total of 15 new services now operate each day on the Maynooth-Connolly-Pearse line. That is in addition to the 30 original services operating on that line. Services have increased by over 60% in the past few years on that line. The investment in the budget this year in public transport is over €777 million. The investment cannot all be made in just one area. However, the investment in that route has been substantial. The new Docklands Station has opened, which is a tremendous benefit not only for Dublin, but in terms of accessibility to Dublin. It serves Clonsilla, Coolmine, Castleknock, Ashtown and Broombridge stations. It is a significant addition in terms of capacity and stopping range that is being provided for customers by Iarnród Éireann.

There have been discussions between Kildare County Council and Iarnród Éireann and the development plan being prepared makes provision for future four tracking should demand warrant it. The important issue now, however, is to complete the projects that are outlined. The Kildare route project is under way. That project is important for the Deputy's constituents but it is equally important for the overall reconfiguration and integration of public transport and the different modes of transport that will be provided under Transport 21. Most of those projects are under way or at some level of development at this point. The investment in the Deputy's constituency is hugely significant in the context of the overall budget for Transport 21.

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