Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has completed an evaluation of the CIE strategy document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27022/04]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Transport if he remains committed to the development of a metro link between Dublin Airport and the city centre by 2007 as outlined in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27018/04]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Transport when he will make a decision regarding the proposed first stage of the Dublin metro. [26888/04]

Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the proposal for a new 5.3 km. rail interconnector that would connect Pearse Station with Heuston; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26974/04]

Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for Transport the position with regard to his plans to bring forward to Cabinet proposals for the construction of a metro system in Dublin; when a final decision will be made on this matter in view of the continuing serious traffic problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26973/04]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Transport if and when he intends to fund the proposed rail interconnector between Heuston Station and Spencer Dock as was proposed by Iarnród Éireann and the Platform for Change document produced by the Dublin Transportation Office. [26892/04]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 136, 145, 147, 168, 192 and 193 together.

The programme for Government contains a number of commitments for the further development of the rail network and includes a specific commitment to develop a metro for Dublin with a link to Dublin Airport. Arising from that programme, the Railway Procurement Agency has submitted to my Department a detailed business case for a metro from the city centre to Dublin Airport while Iarnród Éireann submitted to my Department in July last proposals for an integrated rail network in the greater Dublin area. These latter proposals include the electrification of the Kildare and Maynooth lines and an interconnector tunnel linking Heuston Station to the Docklands to enable greater integration of rail services. The proposals from the RPA and more recently from Iarnród Éireann represent significant investments.

I am now examining these various proposals in the context of the overall needs of the greater Dublin area transport investment needs of the country as a whole and multi-annual funding available for transport investment. I will bring my proposals to Government when I have completed this review.