Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Transport the estimated deficit there will be each year on the Ennis to Athenry rail line according to the business case submitted to his Department by Irish Rail; his views on whether arising from the business case the new rail link will be loss making; and if his Department will provide the necessary funding to cover Irish Rail's annual expenditure on the new route. [10993/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Iarnród Éireann has estimated that there may be an annual operating deficit of approx. €2.4m on the Ennis/Athenry section of the Western Rail Corridor depending on passenger volumes. On the other hand an independent review of the business case for that project indicated that Iarnród Éireann may have underestimated the likely demand somewhat which would tend to overstate the estimated deficit. The extent of the subvention required to meet the deficit will become clear when services commence operation. At that stage the subvention required will be determined in the context of the overall subvention requirements of Iarnród Éireann and CIE. This is determined annually as part of the estimates and budgetary process.