Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Transport the Government initiatives under Transport 21 that will improve bus and train services to the west of Ireland from Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24322/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Bus and rail services to the west of Ireland will benefit from investment, under Transport 21, in the completion of the Railway Safety Programme, the introduction into service of 183 new inter-city railcars, the re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor, investment in other rail upgrade projects including removal of speed restrictions and investment in improved bus services such as the 235 new buses currently being purchased by Bus Éireann.

The investment in the railway network and rolling stock will facilitate the introduction of hourly peak and two hourly off-peak services between Dublin and Galway and two hourly services between Dublin and Sligo from 2009. It will also enable the company to increase the frequency of service on the Dublin/Westport line from the current level of three services each way to five services each way.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Transport the action he will take to accelerate the interconnector project as announced on 24 March 2007; the timescale now proposed for this accelerated project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24271/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The planning, design and construction of the Interconnector is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance. Transport 21 currently provides for the completion of the Interconnector by 2015. The acceleration of the project will be considered in the context of the feasibility and planning design studies currently being undertaken by Iarnród Éireann and its consultants and due for completion this month.