Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Following a number of years of underinvestment, the Government has provided significant funding for public transport since 1999. The role the railway plays in moving large numbers of people in an efficient manner has been particularly recognised. More than €1 billion has been spent in recent years in bringing the rail network up to an acceptable level to cater for the increasing demands made on it. Almost all the trackwork has been renewed and is now continuous welded, the signalling system across the network is undergoing renewal and a phased introduction of new rolling sock is taking place. By the end of 2007, larnród Éireann will have the most modern rolling stock in Europe.

In the case of the Maynooth line, which is the basis for the Senator's matter, Iarnród Éireann doubled the trackwork from Connolly Station to Maynooth in 2000. The company purchased 20 railcars specifically to operate on the line, thereby doubling its capacity as well. Subsequently, under the national development plan, and with EU assistance, the company purchased a further 80 diesel railcars, many of which were assigned to that route. This allowed Iarnród Éireann to increase peak hour trains to eight-car length, the maximum possible on the route. Additional frequencies were also added over time so that the line is now at capacity. Since June 2005, Irish Rail has accepted into service a further 36 diesel railcars. These railcars will be used to replace older rolling stock on the Sligo-Dublin route. In December this year, frequencies on that service will increase from three to five each way per day and will benefit both longer distance commuter and Intercity passengers.

The DART upgrade project will be completed by year end and one of the benefits of this work is that it has allowed Iarnród Eireann to operate additional trains through the Pearse Station-Connolly Stationbottleneck in the morning and evening peaks. The additional train paths are to be assigned to the Dundalk and Maynooth services exclusively. These additional services, similar to the Intercity services I mentioned, will come into effect with the timetable change in mid-December 2005.

In the longer term, the issue of continued growth and demand for rail services must be addressed in an integrated and planned way. A feasibility study into the reinstating of a railway line between Clonsilla and Dunboyne M3 has been completed by Iarnród Éireann, and was presented to a steering group comprising the rail company, Meath and Fingal County Councils, and the Dublin Transportation Office earlier this year. The study examined the line from Clonsilla to the M3 interchange at Pace, which is 7.5 km in length. Three stations are considered at Hansfield, Dunboyne and a major park and ride facility at the proposed M3 interchange. Service frequency would be about every 15 minutes at peak, and every 30 minutes off-peak. larnród Éireann is examining the feasibility study at present and will make specific proposals to the Department if it wishes to proceed with this project.

A complicating factor in the provision of additional services on the Maynooth line and the construction of the spur to Dunboyne is the fact that the central corridor between Pearse station and Connolly station is at full capacity in the peak hours. In view of this, any further capacity increases along the Maynooth line are dependent on the construction of a new city centre railway station. Iarnród Éireann is currently examining suitable locations in the Docklands for a new station.

The Dunboyne line would, at best, cover its direct operating costs, and would not generate profits to fund financing or depreciation costs. However, when wider economic social benefits are taken into account such as time savings, accident savings, environmental benefits and decongestion, the project yields a positive rate of return and is economically viable. Iarnród Éireann has submitted a greater Dublin integrated rail network plan, which proposes the enhancement of all suburban and outer suburban services into Dublin and not just those of the Maynooth line to cater for demand into the future. The proposals are being examined by the Department at present in the context of the multi-annual investment framework for transport and a decision is due soon.

I appreciate the frustration of the Senator and it is shared by people in Dublin, the west and the south. The major economic growth of recent years has left us with a deficit but this is something with which we must put up. The comprehensive reply given highlights the time it takes to make these improvements. Many complications are involved and it is not simply a matter of providing additional rolling stock. Significant infrastructural improvements are needed and significant funding has been directed toward this in the past few years and this will continue. The Minister for Transport and Iarnród Éireann are determined to improve the standard of services as quickly as possible.