Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will respond to issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28641/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I have replied directly to the letter from the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Dara Murphy, to which the Deputy refers. The issues referred to by the Lord Mayor in his letter are a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance. I understand from Iarnród Éireann that the Kent Station project is dependent on developer funding, and that this is no longer available. For this reason, the company cannot progress the project at this time.

Iarnród Éireann has informed me that for operational reasons it plans to develop Kilbarry and Blarney stations in a similar timeframe with Kilbarry to be developed first. In the current economic circumstances, where there are inevitable restrictions on funding, it has been necessary for Iarnród Éireann to prioritise projects and, in that context, the company has decided to defer the development of these stations. The construction of Kilbarry and Blarney stations will be considered again when priorities are being examined for funding in 2010.