Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Pat Breen for raising this important issue. Transport 21 provides for the reopening of the western rail corridor between Ennis and Claremorris on a phased basis and the preservation of an alignment as far as Collooney. It also provides for the upgrade of the Athenry-Galway line in respect of commuter services.

The western rail corridor, when completed, will provide a rail link between the cities of Limerick and Galway and an onward connection to Claremorris. The new line will also facilitate the provision of intra-regional services within the Border, midland and west region. The line between Ennis and Athenry will be the first section to be developed and I await specific proposals from Iarnród Éireann in this regard. Subject to progress in planning, the indicative date for the completion of this first section is 2008. The indicative date for the completion of the Athenry-Tuam section is 2011 and that for the Tuam-Claremorris section is 2014. I understand the necessary steps to preserve the section of line between Claremorris and Collooney will be taken this year.

The phased approach to reopening the western rail corridor, in addition to being consistent with the McCann recommendations, addresses the management of the construction programme in the context of Iarnród Éireann's overall resource requirements under Transport 21. It is important to bear in mind that the rail corridor in question has the potential to attract significant new development along the route. The greater the critical mass of population and economic activity, the stronger the case for this investment. I have already made it clear to the relevant local authorities that it is a matter for them to develop and implement land use strategies that support the case for rail investment.

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