Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 385: To ask the Minister for Transport his views regarding the current underspend in the public transport regional OP; if works on the western rail corridor will commence; if not, the way in which the money will be spent. [33936/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Under the economic and social infrastructure operational programme, ESIOP, the total spend on public transport, from 2000 to mid 2005, was €2.7 billion, almost 98% of the projected spend for that period. It is anticipated that the full allocation for public transport projects will be expended by end 2006.

The spend on the ESIOP for the BMW region has been below target in recent years. However, the BMW figure does not reflect fully the benefits that have accrued to the BMW from public transport expenditure, as a whole. For example, funds have been expended to provide new signalling and track work across the entire Iarnród Éireann network as well as on the provision of new rolling stock. While expenditure on rolling stock, the Heuston Station project and track work was all sourced from S&E region funds, the benefits have and will be felt throughout the country in terms of faster, more comfortable and reliable services.

Following the launch of Transport 21, I have asked Iarnród Éireann to commence the design and planning stages of the western rail corridor from Ennis to Claremorris. The line will be developed on a phased basis, with Ennis to Athenry being completed in 2008, Athenry to Tuam in 2011 and Tuam to Claremorris in 2014.