Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to reaffirm the Government's commitment to the re-opening of the western rail corridor as provided for in Transport 21. Work is under way on the re-opening of the Ennis-Athenry section of the link, involving a complete renewal of the track and signalling and the re-opening of stations at Gort, Ardrahan and Craughwell. When complete, the re-opening of this section will facilitate the operation of direct rail services between Limerick and Galway. The Department of Transport has allocated €60 million to larnród Éireann for expenditure this year on the first phase of the western rail corridor. The total cost of this phase will be €106.5 million and services are due to commence by next May. Transport 21 provides for the completion of the Athenry-Tuam section by 2011 and the Tuam-Claremorris section by 2014. The Minister, Deputy Dempsey, understands from Iarnród Éireann that planning is under way on the Athenry-Tuam section.

The re-opening of the western rail corridor is just part of the Government's major commitment to the upgrading of transport infrastructure in the west. Recent years have seen the completion of major upgrade works on the national road network serving the region. A number of significant projects have been completed on the Atlantic road corridor, including the Newmarket-on-Fergus bypass, the Croom bypass, the Youghal bypass, the Sligo inner relief road, the N15 Bundoran-Ballyshannon bypass and the Ennis bypass. The Limerick southern ring road phase 2 — the Limerick tunnel — and the Waterford city bypass are under construction.

In recognition of the need to accelerate development of this corridor, the national development plan provided for the acceleration of funding for the N18 Crusheen-Gort and Gort-Oranmore schemes. The Minister understands that both schemes will commence at the end of this year or in early 2009. As there are many projects under way in the west, it is not fair to claim that there is only one.