Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 401: To ask the Minister for Transport the way in which the timeframe for the Kildare rail upgrade has been arrived at in view of the fact that considerable work has already been done on the planning stages of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34093/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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CIE submitted to me an application for a railway order for the Kildare route project on 5 October under the terms of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001. I have directed that a public inquiry be held into the application and have appointed Mr. Pat Butler SC as inspector to the inquiry. I understand that the inspector will begin the inquiry early in 2006 and that the findings will be submitted to me soon after its conclusion.

It is anticipated that if I decide to grant the railway order, construction work will begin before the end of 2006. Iarnród Éireann estimates that the project will take just over three years to carry out and the date for completion in Transport 21 is, therefore, 2010.