§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What recent consultations they have had with the European Commission and the Irish Government over the Belfast cross-city rail link and the upgrading of the Belfast to Dublin railway; whether progress is being made; and by when they expect the whole line from Larne to Dublin to have been improved.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Skelmersdale)Discussions continue with the European Commission and Irish Government. Both proposals are included in the transportation programme for Northern Ireland which has been approved by the Commission. I understand that the Irish Government is committed to the upgrading of the Belfast to Dublin rail link provided EC funding is available in a way which would not render other domestic projects impossible.
Tenders for the Belfast cross harbour road and rail links will be invited in July 1990. Work should start on site in 1991 and be completed three years later. I am not yet in a position to say when the whole line from Larne to Dublin will be improved, since this is dependent on the outcome of the discussions on the Belfast to Dublin sector.