Mr. Garret Doocey:

I will start by reflecting on some of the points the Deputy made earlier in respect of the Sligo-Dublin rail link and the improvements to it. In that instance, those type of issues were covered off. Recommendations in respect of them are included in the draft all-island strategic rail review that is to be published. There are proposals regarding to the Sligo-Dublin rail link. I assure the Deputy that it was not just a purely economic analysis underpinning the all-island strategic rail review. It was analysis formed around objectives. I am trying to remember whether we had five, six or seven strategic objectives, but economic value for money was only one of them. Obviously, an economic analysis needs to form a part of any big investment infrastructure programme. It is there, but it was not just solely based on the cost-benefit analysis.

Regarding the Deputy's earlier comments, the analysis underpinning the all-island strategic rail review was published last summer. It is still available on the website and, obviously, will be available throughout when we finally publish the report that sits on top. It is all there on the website and available to view.

On the Deputy's question on costs, if you were to drill it down to euro to euro in the context of a greenway, the cost would vary quite a lot on the basis of particular topography, etc. However, in a simple euro comparison, a greenway is cheaper than a railway. If we look at the published draft all-island strategic rail review for the Athenry to Claremorris section of the western rail corridor, which is recommended for reinstatement to commence by 2030, we can see that - I am working from memory here - that an indicative cost of €400 million to €600 million is provided. I may be slightly wrong on that, but the figure is in that ballpark . The draft review is, as I said, available on the website. That gives a sense of that cost. The cost of greenway is roughly €1 million per km, but it can depend on certain considerations..