Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Transport the efforts made to bring together those with executive responsibilities in Northern Ireland and the Irish Government to develop consultation, co-operation and action within the island of Ireland in the area of road connectivity, in particular the region west of the Bann, which includes Derry city and Letterkenny; if the North South Ministerial Council deems such connectivity as a matter of mutual interest within the competence of the Administrations, North and South, under strand two of the Good Friday Belfast Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5751/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Government has agreed to make available funding of €580 million to provide for a major upgrade of roads within Northern Ireland serving the North West Gateway of Letterkenny/Derry. The project is being taken forward under the auspices of the North-South Ministerial Council.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Transport the efforts made to bring together those with executive responsibilities in Northern Ireland and the Irish Government to develop consultation, co-operation and action within the island of Ireland in the area of high speed rail connectivity, in particular the region west of the Bann, which includes Derry city and Letterkenny; if the North South Ministerial Council deems such connectivity as a matter of mutual interest within the competence of the Administrations, North and South, under strand two of the Good Friday Belfast Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5752/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 1897/08 on 12 February which sets out, inter alia, the position, in relation to responsibility for capital projects and programmes. The North-South Ministerial Council in its transport sectoral format has considered a wide range of cross border transport issues including, in relation to railway services, the Dublin-Belfast Railway link and railway safety. It has not discussed the area of high speed rail connectivity either generally or in relation to the region west of the Bann.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Transport the action, in chronological order, he, his Department or the North South Ministerial Council have taken for North-South co-operation in relation to strategic transport planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5763/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The main forum for such co-operation in strategic transport planning is through the Transport Sector of the North South Ministerial Council. Since taking office I have attended two meetings of that Sector, one on the 14th September 2007 and the other on the 12th December 2007.