Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey insisted today that a planned railway link between Dublin and Navan is to proceed, despite not being included in yesterday's revised capital spending programme.
Speaking on RTÉ radio this lunchtime, Mr Dempsey said the railway, which was initially expected to open by 2015, will still go ahead.
"It is in the capital programme, it is for delivery for the period 2016. Finances are available for it and the planning is going ahead," said Mr Dempsey.
"CIÉ are currently working on the preparation of the railway order which will be submitted in the first half of 2011. Construction will start immediately after planning permission is granted," he added.
The first tracks of phase one of the reopening of the Dublin-Navan railway line were laid in October last.
The 7.5-km double-track line begins at Clonsilla where it will branch off from the Maynooth-Dublin line and ends at a park and ride facility at Pace near Dunboyne, Co Meath. Services are scheduled to get under way from Dublin to Dunboyne later this year.
Phrase two of the project, which involves extending the line from Pace to Navan, is forecast to be completed by 2015.
The extension is expected to utilise the alignment of the old Navan railway line which closed in 1963.
