Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 584: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will approve the business case for the Kildare Arrow route project; if not, when he will respond to Irish Rail; if funding is available to proceed with the project from 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11107/05]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 585: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has considered Irish Rail's plan to provide a DART service on the Maynooth suburban line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11109/05]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 587: To ask the Minister for Transport the status of the Kildare route project; and the timeframe, indicating various stages of progress. [11139/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 584, 585 and 587 together.

Iarnród Éireann has submitted a business case to my Department for the development of a greater Dublin integrated rail network, aimed at meeting the projected demand for rail services in the area into the future. Included in the business case are proposals to provide a tunnel linking Heuston to the docklands; expand and upgrade the Kildare route; and electrify the Maynooth line. The business case for the proposed integrated rail network is being assessed by my Department in the context of the ten-year transport investment framework that is currently being finalised. However, a revised business case specifically related to the Kildare route project is expected from the company shortly and this will be assessed separately as soon as it is received with a view to an early funding decision in the context of the existing five-year capital envelope.