Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Transport when work on the upgrade of the main Kildare-Dublin rail line will commence and be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29490/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 251: To ask the Minister for Transport the timetable for the expansion of the Dublin, Hazelhatch, Sallins lines; if the service will be extended by way of link to other towns in the area, such as Naas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29794/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 251 together.

On 3 October 2005, CIE lodged an application for a railway order with me under the provisions of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001 for a major programme of works to upgrade the infrastructure on the Kildare route, which will lead to a significant increase in capacity. Under the requirements of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001, I have now directed that a public inquiry be held into the proposed works and I am in the process of appointing an inspector to hold the inquiry. It is a matter for the inspector to decide when and where the inquiry will be held.

In deciding, in due course, whether to grant the railway order for the proposed development, I will consider the application itself, the draft railway order from CIE, the inspector's report of the public inquiry and any submissions made to me on the proposal. The timetable for the implementation of the project is dependent on CIE being granted the railway order for which it recently applied.