Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

Significant progress, which I intend to pursue, was made under the former Minister in recent years in terms of upgrading mainline track for freight and passenger services; providing significant capacity for commuters in the greater Dublin area; and making improvements to the quality of services through the provision of new and modern carriages. I am pleased that this week I have given Irish Rail final formal approval for Exchequer funding for the purchase of 67 new mainline carriages and increasing DART capacity which will represent by 2005 an increase of 100% on the year 2000 capacity. This is apart from 80 new diesel rail cars which will begin to arrive in the coming weeks.

I hope I have conveyed clearly to Senators the turning point which has been reached in recent years in terms of revitalising our railways and the Government's full commitment to continue to invest in the rail network and develop an increasingly modern rail system for the Ireland of the 21st century.