Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on replacing the level crossings at Coolmine and Clonsilla with either a bridge or tunnels to facilitate movement of road traffic in view of plans to increase the frequency of trains on the Maynooth line, and the addition of services to and from Dunboyne and eventually Navan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36032/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The management of road traffic at level crossings is a matter for the relevant local authorities in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann. The upgrading of railway infrastructure and associated roads is also a matter in the first instance for Iarnród Éireann and local authorities and, in the case of national roads, the NRA.

I understand that the upgrading of level crossings on the Maynooth line will, inter alia, be considered in the context of plans under Transport 21 for the development of the line which will also include resignalling and electrification of the route. The current position on this project is that a feasibility study is currently underway and is expected to be completed in 2007 with a view to commencing the Maynooth line upgrade programme of works in 2008.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied that there is sufficient funding in place to enable the Cork to Midleton rail line to be constructed and completed; the estimated cost of the project; the amount of funding his Department has and will be contributing towards the cost of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36060/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Provision for the capital costs of the Cork Commuter Services Project, including for the development of the Glounthane to Midleton railway line, was incorporated into the multi-annual estimates for Transport 21 when it was announced last November. This provision was made on the basis of costings prepared by consultants on behalf of Iarnród Éireann as part of the cost-benefit analysis for the project and allowing also for contributions to the project to be leveraged from a scheme under Section 49 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 which is being implemented by Cork County Council.

Since the announcement of Transport 21, Iarnród Éireann has completed detailed designs for the project allowing the Company to submit an application for a Railway Order and to prepare tender documents. On this basis, the business case, including the anticipated costs of the project, have been updated in accordance with the Department of Finance's Guidelines for the Appraisal of Capital Expenditure. I can confirm that the funding provision within Transport 21 continues to be sufficient for the completion of the project.

I do not propose to release the estimated cost of the project as this remains commercially sensitive information until the public procurement process for this project is completed.