Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Transport the position with regard to the provision of a Dublin metro service; if any such proposals have been brought to Cabinet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4765/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The programme for Government contains a specific commitment to develop a metro rail service for Dublin with a link to Dublin Airport. The Railway Procurement Agency has submitted to my Department a detailed business case for a metro from Dublin city centre to Dublin Airport, while Iarnród Éireann submitted proposals last July for an integrated rail network in the greater Dublin area. These proposals include the electrification of the Kildare, northern and Maynooth lines, a DART service to the airport off the northern line and an interconnecting tunnel linking Heuston Station to the Docklands to enable greater integration of rail services.

I expect to put proposals to Government in the near future for a ten-year transport investment plan in the light of the announcement by the Minister for Finance in his Budget Statement of agreement in principle to a ten-year capital investment envelope for transport. This plan will set out a comprehensive investment strategy for the greater Dublin area within the policy framework established by the Dublin Transportation Office's report, A Platform for Change, and these proposals.