Written answers

Thursday, 9 July 2009

12:00 pm

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 463: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to increase rail freight within the transport system; his further plans to introduce a rail freight subsidy on a per tonne basis for materials that are transferred from existing road freight onto rail freight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29819/09]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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There is substantial ongoing current and capital Exchequer investment in the development and operation of the Irish railway network. Total Exchequer funding allocated to Iarnród Éireann for 2008 amounted to more than €720 million and freight services benefit from this investment also.

I propose to establish a forum on the movement of goods as set out in Smarter Travel - A Sustainable Transport Future, which was published earlier this year. My Department is currently undertaking preparatory work on the membership, tasks, and timescales for the forum. The forum will address both economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability matters associated with the movement of goods by air, sea, rail, and road. The realistic potential for rail freight and its role within an integrated freight transport strategy including issues such as a rail freight subsidy and international experience in the promotion of rail freight will be among the matters explored by the forum.

When the forum has deliberated, the question of introducing additional funding for the railways to promote rail freight will be considered at that time and also in the context of other demands for funding in the transport sector and the level of availability of Exchequer funding at that time.

In the meantime, Iarnród Éireann continues to pursue a policy of growing its rail freight business where opportunities present and of returning the rail freight business to profitability. In that context, Iarnród Éireann has made progress in recent years in growing the rail freight business in areas where it holds a competitive advantage over road haulage, e.g. large volumes or trainloads over longer distances, which are not time sensitive.

The rail freight market has been fully liberalised since 1 January 2007, and while no applications have been made for entry to the market to date, any expressions of interest would be welcomed.

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 464: To ask the Minister for Transport the estimated commencement of works and completion date for metro west; the estimated commencement or works and completion date for Lucan Luas line F; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29820/09]

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 465: To ask the Minister for Transport the commencement of works and completion date for Luas line BS and Luas line D; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29821/09]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 464 and 465 together.

The start and completion dates for projects which have not yet commenced construction, including Metro West, the Lucan Luas Line F and the Luas cross city link to Liffey Junction (Line BXD), will be determined as appropriate by the outcome of public consultation, the statutory planning approval process, the public procurement process and the funding available to my Department during the current difficult economic climate.

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 466: 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. [29822/09]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Under Transport 21 the Western Rail Corridor is to be reinstated on a phased basis. Phase 1 will see the reinstatement of the line from Ennis to Athenry and is due for completion later this year. Phase 2 will link Athenry to Tuam and Phase 3 will see the reopening of the line from Tuam to Claremorris. Further studies are planned for later in 2009 to determine up to date costings of phases 2 and 3. As part of Transport 21 the rail line to Navan is being reinstated in two phases with Phase 1 due to open in late 2010 while Phase 2 is intended to extend the rail line to Navan. This is due to be completed in 2015.

As I have previously stated, the start and completion dates of Transport 21 projects in planning will in each case be determined by the outcome of public consultation, the statutory planning approval process, the public procurement process and the availability of financial resources determined by the funding allocation available during the current difficult economic climate.

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 467: To ask the Minister for Transport the status of proposals for Luas or light rail systems for Cork, Galway and Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29823/09]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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In line with a commitment in the Programme for Government, the local authorities in Cork, Galway and Limerick are carrying out studies into the feasibility of light rail systems and also, at my request, of bus rapid transit systems. I met last month with officials from Cork and Galway, and these studies are substantially complete. The start of the Limerick study, which is being conducted as part of the wider Mid-West Area Strategic Plan (MWASP), was delayed while the terms of reference of the this wider study were being revised by the local authorities in the area. This study is now well underway, and Limerick City Council, as the lead authority, have indicated that they expect it to be completed by Autumn.

All of these studies will be published by the local authorities in due course when they have been cleared through the procedures required within each of the authorities.

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 468: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will provide a full report on the Dublin rail interconnector; the stage that planning for the Rail Interconnector is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29824/09]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of increased capacity is a key consideration in determining investment priorities for public transport. Given their potential to greatly increase capacity on the public transport network, Metro North and the DART Underground (as the Interconnector is now known) are key projects.

The preliminary design of the DART Underground has been completed and work is currently underway on the scheme design, geo-technical investigation and preparation of an environmental impact study including a detailed archaeological report. A revised plan extending the tunnel to Inchicore emerged from this phase of the planning work. The revisions were presented to communities along the route in April 2009 in a series of public consultation meetings starting on 20th April in Kilmainham. Further public consultation will take place in the lead-up to the railway order application. Iarnród Éireann are planning to submit an application for a railway order to An Bord Pleanála by the end of 2009.

The start and completion dates of Transport 21 projects in planning, such as the DART Underground, will in each case be determined by the outcome of public consultation, the statutory planning approval process, the public procurement process and the availability of financial resources determined by the funding allocation available during the current difficult economic climate.

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