Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy and acknowledge his strong support for the Cork area commuter rail programme, which he has been advocating to the Government for some time. It is a very exciting programme. Its total cost is €185 million over the five-year period from 2021 to 2026. It involves significant enhancement and development of the rail network over approximately 62 km from Mallow through Cork to Cobh and on to Midleton. The main construction contract will be signed next year, as well as the contract on the electric train fleet. It is estimated that the key work in Kent Station in Cork will be completed by the end of 2024 and the full project will be finalised in 2026. As the Deputy knows, all this is with the ultimate aim of having ten-minute frequency all day on electrified rail services associated with the Cork commuter rail project. Therefore, it is a really exciting project. I welcome the Deputy's support for it and the fact that he has raised it. I have a detailed information note on it that I am happy to share with him.

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