Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will confirm that the next stage of the western rail provision from Athenry to Tuam, County Galway, will be completed within completion date under Transport 21 of November 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28583/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The first phase of the Western Rail Corridor was opened on 29th March 2010. Because of changed economic circumstances, it will not now be possible to progress all the projects in Transport 21 in accordance with the ambitious timescales envisioned at its launch. Overall transport investment priorities have been reviewed and these priorities are reflected in the Renewed Programme for Government. The Renewed Programme prioritises Metro North and the DART Underground as the key public transport projects for delivery in the coming years.

I can confirm that it is also a priority to commit to continue to progress planning on all other Transport 21 public transport projects to ensure that we will be in a position to move speedily to construction at the earliest possible date once financial resources permit. In this context, Phases 2 and 3 of the Western Rail Corridor remain a Government priority. The next step will be for Iarnród Eireann to undertake a detailed evaluation of Phases 2 and 3 with a view to arriving at precise costs to undertake the works.