Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 297: To ask the Minister for Transport the position in relation to a commuter rail link from Galway City to Athenry and Ballinasloe, including a new rail station in Oranmore as submitted by Galway City Council. [22711/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Transport 21 provides for the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor on a phased basis. Iarnród Éireann has submitted a proposal to my Department for Phase 1 of the project (the reopening of the Ennis to Athenry section in 2008). This proposal provides for rail services between Limerick and Galway via Athenry, including the construction of a new station at Oranmore. These services will be additional to the services already provided between Galway City and Athlone, which service Ballinasloe and Athenry and which will be expanded to a two hourly service in 2007/2008 as additional rolling stock is provided on theroute.

The Iarnród Éireann proposals have been assessed by my Department, and I will be reporting on them to Government in the very near future.