John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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746. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Iarnród Éireann plans to have a second track side by side with the current Waterford to Dublin line; if so, when is this likely to happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31143/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Matters relating to the development of individual rail lines, such as Dublin to Waterford, are a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance. Iarnród Éireann have made no proposal to my Department in relation to  a second track on the Waterford-Dublin line. As the Deputy will be aware, CIE is in a difficult financial position and is dependent on continued bank funding.  It has no resources of its own available to fund new rail projects and there is no funding in the current capital plan for expansion of the heavy rail network.

The lifetime of the Government's current capital investment plan runs to 2016 and with the available funding the priority for heavy rail is to protect the operational network and maintain safety standards, rather than the expansion of the network. The bulk of the funding is required for rail safety and renewal.

Preparatory work on a new government capital investment plan to 2019 has begun. This will involve a focused review of the current plan and take account of investment priorities for the next five years. If additional funds are available over and above what is required to maintain existing assets  there will be many competing transport projects across all modes. Only projects for which there is a clear identifiable need, which are affordable, have a robust business case and add value to existing infrastructure, will be prioritised for funding in the new capital plan.