Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 318: To ask the Minister for Transport if a date has been fixed for the start of construction for the Kildare route project; if this project could be extended to Straffan Station thereby servicing the communities of Ardclough and Straffan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12091/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Following Irish Rail's application to me for a railway order for the Kildare route project in October last year, a public inquiry was held from 24 January to 2 February. I am now awaiting the inspector's report of the inquiry.

I will make a decision as to the granting of the railway order when I have given due consideration to that report and to the submissions I received in respect of the project. Subject to the granting of the railway order, I understand from Irish Rail that construction will start by the end of this year.

The decision to limit the geographic scope of the project to Hazlehatch is based on the view that service provision will be sufficient to meet capacity demands in the medium term beyond 2015. Commuters from the Straffan area will nonetheless be conveniently served by the Hazlehatch station and the park and ride facilities to be developed there as part of the Kildare route project.