Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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587. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had any contact with his Northern counterpart with regard to the upgrading of the Dublin to Belfast rail line; the costs associated with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37755/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I anticipate meeting the Minister for Regional Development at the Transport Sectoral North South Ministerial Council meeting on 05 November next.  

The Dublin-Belfast rail line is one of the key rail lines on the island of Ireland as it links Ireland's two largest conurbations.  Officials in relevant  Departments in Dublin and Belfast are in regular communication regarding the opportunities for ongoing  development of the cross-border Enterprise service which is operated jointly by Iarnród Éireann and Translink.  With support from both Departments the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) recently announced the awarding of approximately £17.5m/€20m of INTERREG EU co-funding towards the refurbishment of the Drogheda Viaduct and the overhaul of the Enterprise service.

The capital plan to 2016 prioritises protecting existing assets and maintaining safety standards. As a result the bulk of the Exchequer funding for rail goes towards asset renewal and maintenance across the network under the terms of Infrastructure Manager Multi-Annual Contract. Under this contract Irish Rail will be funding works on the  Dublin-Belfast line in order to protect the existing infrastructure and maintain safety standards.

There is limited funding for enhancements and upgrades but some funding has been allocated for projects such as the Dublin City Centre Resignalling, which when completed would have the potential to improve  the Enterprise service.