Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans on expanding commuter rail lines to serve maximum passenger numbers; if there is oversight in his Department on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18341/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The renewed programme for Government contains a commitment to the provision of a safe and efficient network of rail services. Under Transport 21, rail services, including commuter services, have expanded significantly resulting in substantially increased capacity for passengers. The 67 new intercity carriages on the Dublin to Cork line and the 177 new intercity rail cars have provided increased capacity on all major intercity and commuter routes. An additional 51 intercity rail cars will begin to arrive in Ireland next year. A number of other projects have also been completed, including the reopening of the Cork to Midleton line, phase 1 of the western rail corridor and the Kildare route. Work is continuing on phase 1 of the Navan line which is due for completion this autumn.

The DART underground project, including associated resignalling, electrification and rolling stock projects, will lead to a trebling of capacity for commuter services in the greater Dublin area, providing for up to 100 million passenger journeys per annum. The Docklands Luas extension opened last year and the extensions to Cherrywood and Citywest are due for completion in late 2010 and mid 2011 respectively.

A decision on the railway order for metro north is expected this summer. This project and the DART underground project are key priorities for public transport in the renewed programme for Government.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister knows where I am coming from with this question. I was brought up 50 yards from a railway line so I have a great interest in railways.

I did not want to get involved but I cannot understand the decision taken on the location of a station outside of Dunshaughlin. When I was first elected and made spokesman on road safety and transport, I had a meeting about the railway line with Iarnród Éireann and was told how sensitive the issue was, the costs of building it and that enough passengers must travel on it. I was delighted when the line reached Dunboyne and then Navan. I cannot understand, however, why it has been taken away from Dunshaughlin. No one has explained how building a railway station outside a town is the way forward, it must be within the town. The people of Ratoath, Ashbourne and Dunshaughlin are being left out in the cold, it is a waste of time if we are not joined up in Dunshaughlin.

The M3 is being built with two tolls on it, which is stupid, because those from Kells will not drive on it because it is too expensive. The railway line to Navan is going down the old route but that line was used 70 or 80 years ago to bring fodder to Dublin when Dunshaughlin was a very small town. The people of Dunshaughlin and County Meath in general cannot understand why this route has been chosen for the railway line. Can the Minister explain to the people of Dunshaughlin, Ratoath, Ashbourne, Screen, Curragha and the rest of County Meath why the line is going in a straight line and cutting out these people?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The route of the rail line was the subject of extensive consultation and study. A number of routes were looked at in the course of this preparation, to both the east and west of Dunshaughlin and also following the old route all the way. There was extensive study from the environmental, economic and cost benefit analysis points of view. The unanimous agreement of those who undertook all the studies was that this route would give the best return and would be best placed on the old alignment which happens to pass to the west of Dunshaughlin.

The only people I have heard recommending it should go east of Dunshaughlin are those who may have a vested interest in land on the east side because the line would enhance the value of their property. However, from the point of view of trying to ensure the rail line is built at an economic cost and within the time scales in question the line to the west was the one recommended. Going to the east of Dunshaughlin would add at least €100 million to the cost, without taking into account the cost of land, and would involve two crossings of the M3. For that reason it was decided not to take that route.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister's answer in regard to the area east of Dunshaughlin may concern vested interests but the entire county of Meath has to do with zoned land and vested interests. That is why we were at the top of the list the other day.

However, my interest in this has nothing to do with that issue. I do not even know who owns the land but a railway is built for people. The previous rail line was built for cattle and for shipping hay, turnips and carrots to the markets in Dublin. Now, however, we are talking about Ratoath and Dunshaughlin, two major towns. There is more to life than the town of Navan. I want to know who picked this route and I will find that out in the end and will discover how this could be announced on a day when Irish Rail did not even know about it. It was announced for political reasons.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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There is no great secret about who selected the route. The recommendation was made to the board-----

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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By whom?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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-----by the people who did the studies.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Has that study been made public?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Yes. Approximately three studies were done in this regard over the years. This study is available. I am sure the Deputy will find it on the CIE website.

Like the Deputy, I do not know who owns any land, either east or west of Dunshaughlin but when the recommendation came to me-----

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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How can the Minister make that statement?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy will allow the Minister to reply.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Why is the Minister making a statement like that?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Allow the Minister to reply.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I will discover the reasons.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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No Member will be shouted down in this House.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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No, they will not.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy is allowed to put his question and the Minister should be allowed to respond.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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There is no point in making implications. We all know what-----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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If the Deputy is not happy to obey the normal rules of the House, he knows the alternative he has.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I do not think the Deputy-----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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This is a House of Parliament, not a shouting match.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I do not think the Deputy should go down the route of rezoning in County Meath, asking who was involved in that. It would not be a productive exercise.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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By God, it would not.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The studies that were completed on this matter are public. On the recommendation of the consultants it appointed, the board of CIE agreed a particular route. This was recommended to me and I accepted it. There is no great secret about it.