Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to maintain State control of the railway network and Iarnród Éireann and improve the system and increase access across the country. [15050/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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This question is about State control of Iarnrod Eireann  and planned improvements to the rail network. Both CIE and its subsidiary, Ianrod Eireann will remain in State ownership.

My Department and the National Transport Authority are working with Iarnrod Eireann to increase the efficiency and attractiveness of existing rail services.

The Government continues to provide substantial Exchequer investment in the rail network despite the significant financial challenges.  In the past two years a total of almost €385 million has been invested in Iarnrod Eireann and further investment of over €130 million will take place this year.  The overall investment in railway safety is in excess of €1.5 billion since 1999 when the Railway Safety Programme commenced.  There has also been significant investment in rolling stock, on upgrading the Kildare Route and opening new routes such as the Cork Commuter Route, Navan Phase 1 and Phase 1 of the Western Rail Corridor.

The investment regime for Iarnrod Eireann for 2014 is currently being reviewed having regard to the anticipated completion of the Railway Safety Programme by the end of 2013 and new EU mandated infrastructure management contract requirements, allied to the need to ensure value for money in the spending of constrained Exchequer funding.  It is envisaged that, from 2014 onwards, investment in Iarnrod Eireann will concentrate on maintaining and renewing a fit for purpose rail network, augmented by some targetted investment enhancements which will be limited due to the overall level of resources available for transport investment up to 2016.

On 24 July last, the Government decided to provide additional PSO funding of €36 million to the CIE companies.  This brought the total subvention paid to CIE in 2012 to €278 million, of which €166.4 million was paid to Iarnrod Eireann.  CIE is progressing a 5-year Business Plan to address the underlying financial challenges facing CIE so that the CIE's rail and bus services can be provided efficiently and cost effectively over the Plan period.