Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Transport if, in view of the importance of the rail interconnector at Spencer Dock, he will consider the measures that can be put in place to bring the project to completion at a much earlier stage than identified in Transport 21; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39897/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Transport 21 provides for the construction of the Interconnector in the period 2010-2015. My Department and Irish Rail accord a high priority to this project, which is intended to be the final phase of a programme to extend and reconfigure the DART and suburban services and to provide higher capacities, frequencies and integration of services to meet forecast demand levels in the Dublin inner-suburban area and to develop an integrated transport system for the capital.

There are a number of projects currently under way that are necessary to prepare for the development of the interconnector including the Kildare Route Project, feasibility study on the electrification of the Maynooth line and two complementary planning studies on the Interconnector. Irish Rail and the Railway Procurement Agency are also working well together to ensure that planning for both the Interconnector and the Metro is properly integrated. On this basis and taking account of the scale and extent of this project, I am confident that the timeframe for the delivery of the Interconnector as set out in Transport 21 is realistic and achievable.

My Department will continue to work with Irish Rail to ensure that this project is delivered as quickly as possible.