Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 413: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has seen and approved costings from Irish Rail in relation to the re-opening of the western rail corridor; if he has approved the Exchequer funding for this project; when the funding will be allocated to Irish Rail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20892/06]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 434: To ask the Minister for Transport the nature and details contained in the reports he has received from Irish Rail in relation to the western rail corridor; the costings for the estimated cost of the development of phase one and phase two of the western rail corridor as set out in Transport 21; when work will begin on this project; when each phase of this project will be fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20676/06]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 436: To ask the Minister for Transport the amount of Exchequer funding allocated for the development of the western rail corridor; the amount drawn down to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20893/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 413, 434 and 436 together.

Transport 21 includes a financial provision to cover the anticipated cost of the Western Rail Corridor project. I do not propose to release this commercially sensitive information until the public procurement process for this project is completed.

The current position regarding the Western Rail Corridor is that Iarnród Éireann has submitted business cases to my Department relating to Phase 1 (the reopening of the Ennis to Athenry section in 2008) and Phase 2 (re-opening of the Athenry to Tuam section in 2011). These are currently being finalised in my Department and I expect to be in a position to make a decision on Iarnród Éireann's applications and the allocation of funding in the coming weeks.