Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 354: To ask the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied with the situation whereby DART carriages which were due to undergo refurbishment in Germany and re-enter service in December 2006, may not now be completed for a further two years; if he has discussed with Irish Rail the capacity constraints which this may cause and their impact on commuters in the Greater Dublin Area; if he is further satisfied that taxpayers are getting value for money in relation to this refurbishment contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40078/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Contracts for the purchase and refurbishment of railway rolling stock is an operational and commercial matter between Iarnród Éireann and its suppliers and is not one in which I have any role. I understand from Iarnród Éireann that refurbishment work on the rolling stock in question has been delayed due to difficulties with the contractors in achieving the planned programme for the works but that the delivery of refurbished cars has now commenced. As only a limited number of DART cars are under refurbishment at any one time I am informed that the impact on service levels is limited and that Iarnród Éireann will shortly be extending the number of 8 car trains in service at peak time. Issues arising under the contract relating to the refurbishment are commercial matters for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance and the Company is well aware of the need to ensure full value for money in all its contracts.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 355: To ask the Minister for Transport the level of subvention per passenger granted to Irish Rail; the level of such subvention granted in relation to the Dublin Cork and the Dublin Belfast lines; the number of passengers carried on these routes respectively each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40079/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The information sought by the Deputy is set out below in respect of 2005, the last full year for which the information is available:

Total Subvention — €179.9 million

Total No. of Passengers — 37.65 million

Subvention per Passenger — €4.78.

The total number of passengers carried by Iarnród Éireann in 2005 on the Dublin-Cork and Dublin-Belfast lines was 2.66 million and 1.35 million respectively. A breakdown of the subvention across individual railway lines is not available in my Department.