Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Transport the estimated completion dates for the full Navan rail line and western rail corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39838/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Transport 21 provides for the re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor on a phased basis in the period to 2015. Work on the line between Ennis and Athenry is due for completion in May 2009.

Planning and design work on phases 2 (Athenry — Tuam) and 3 (Tuam — Claremorris) is a matter for Iarnród Éireann as part of its Transport 21 programme.

Transport 21 provides for the development of the Navan Rail Link on a phased basis in the period to 2015. Work is due to get under way shortly on the Clonsilla — Dunboyne section (Phase 1) and is due for completion in 2010. The current position regarding the Dunboyne — Navan section (Phase 2) is that a scoping study has been completed and Iarnród Éireann is now proceeding to undertake a feasibility study on the 2 alternative routes identified in the scoping study.

The start and completion dates of Transport 21 projects in planning, such as phases 2 and 3 of the Western Rail Corridor and phase 2 of the Navan Rail Link, will be determined by the funding allocation available during the current difficult economic climate.