Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Transport if he is examining the feasibility of developing high speed rail services on the inter-urban rail network; if he has reviewed developments in high speed rail in the UK, Spain and the US for example; his views on whether similar rail innovations could apply here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17885/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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It is a matter for Iarnród Eireann in the first instance to consider the type of rail services that it considers most appropriate for the intercity network. Iarnród Éireann's InterCity journey times are a function of the line-speed, the maximum speed that the rolling stock is capable of, the number of intermediate station stops enroute and the number of temporary or permanent speed restrictions at locations on the line of route.

Transport 21 does not provide for the development of high-speed rail services on the intercity network. As work is undertaken on a successor to Transport 21 the feasibility of various projects that were not included in Transport 21, including the development of high-speed intercity services, will be considered, taking account of the commitment in the Renewed Programme for Government to conduct a feasibility study for high speed rail services on the Dublin-Belfast corridor.