Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has received the revised business case in respect of the Kildare route project; if he is in a position to sanction the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20489/05]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will sanction the proposed improvements to the Maynooth suburban rail line as outlined in the proposed integrated rail network including the building of a new train station at Spencer Dock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20490/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions No. 118 and 119 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 into the future. Included in the business case are proposals to: construct a new rail station in the city centre docklands area; provide an interconnector tunnel linking Heuston to the docklands; provide a spur off the Maynooth line to the N3 beyond Dunboyne; expand the capacity of the DART; and provide additional capacity on the Kildare route.

These proposals are being considered in the context of the multi-annual capital investment framework for transport, which is being prepared in my Department at present. I hope to submit the investment framework to the Government in the near future.

As regards the Kildare route project, I understand that Iarnród Éireann is close to finalising a revised business case regarding the four-tracking of a section of the line. The company will submit a railway order application for the project when the business case has been approved by the Department.