Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has taken particular steps to ensure that measures calculated to address traffic congestion affecting the commuter towns throughout County Kildare in the context of the Transport 21 programme or otherwise will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32992/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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There are several investment programmes under Transport 21 in Co. Kildare, which will be of major benefit to the County. Irish Rail is progressing the 4-tracking of the railway between Hazelhatch and a point approximately 1 km west of Heuston Station, which upon completion, will permit the suburban service between Kildare towns and the western side of the city to be significantly improved. Bus Éireann has also recently significantly increased the level of service on its network of commuter services between Dublin city and towns in Kildare.

In addition, Kildare County Council has been allocated grants towards the costs of providing the following improved facilities by the DTO Traffic Management Grants Committee during 2007 and 2008:

€510,000 (90% funding rate) to prepare traffic management plans for the towns of Maynooth, Celbridge, Kilcock, Naas and Kildare, building on the recommendations of previously conducted Integrated Framework Plans for Land Use and Transport for those towns.

€247,500 (90% funding rate) to provide a network of on-street cycle lanes on the radial routes and off-street cycle tracks on orbital routes in and around the town of Naas.

€178,900 (90% funding rate) for the provision of off-road cycle tracks along Naas Southern Ring Road (Newbridge Road to Ballymore Road section)

€237,150 (90% funding rate) for the provision of on-road cycle advisory lanes along Naas Southern Ring Road (Ballymore Road to Blessington Road section)

This funding is being provided to the DTO by my Department under the Transport 21 Programme.