Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Question 344: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason all works on the south side of Dublin city associated with the DASH project were not completed in one tranche in 2004. [11659/05]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Question 345: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will make a statement on three outstanding planning permissions appealed to An Bord Pleanála by An Taisce which threaten to delay the mobility access works due to take place over the summer of 2005 on the south side of Dublin city; if such closures will not have to be extended in duration or repeated. [11660/05]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will make a statement on future closures of DART stations associated with signalling improvements. [11661/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 344 to 346, inclusive, together.

Responsibility for the management of the DART upgrade project rests with Iarnród Éireann and queries regarding the detail of the implementation process are a matter for the company. I am informed by the company that, because of planning and property issues encountered during the first period of south side works, it was not possible to complete all planned works at that stage and that it will be necessary to suspend weekend services between Pearse Station and Greystones to complete accessibility works at southside stations from the beginning of June 2005 for 13 weekends.

The company has informed me that the work will be carried out in the shortest timeframe and with the minimum disruption to DART customers. In this regard, additional bus services will be provided along the route of the DART to cater for inconvenienced customers. The resignalling in the critical city centre area will allow for increased train movements. This will increase the frequency of services, which can operate from Connolly Station to Pearse Station from 12 to 16 per hour at peak times. Iarnród Éireann is designing a works programme for the project.