Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

To answer Deputy Doherty's question, we should look at returning rail connectivity to Donegal and improving it to the north west. This will not be cheap. I had a series of meetings with ARUP and the UK rail transport expert who was asked by the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson to examine some large projects.

I thought providing access to Donegal would see the development of the existing line on the north Antrim coast. In those discussions, what started to come into view was the possibility of a spur from Portadown through Dungannon, Omagh and Strabane. An historical connection involving Monaghan took that route. The line would have to have a spur to Letterkenny in order to ensure a connection to Donegal. It would be transformative for the relationship between Letterkenny and Derry, as well as Strabane, Omagh and Dungannon. It would be of huge benefit to the island and would improve island connectivity.

It would be very expensive because we would need to build a new line even though there is an existing line, which the Deputy knows from driving up and down the road. The UK Government would be the key funders of such a line, but in terms of the strategic long-term development of the island it has huge potential and I look forward to seeing what the final conclusions are. Yesterday, I asked for a copy of the latest draft report to see how detailed or specific the idea that is being advanced is. In my mind, it is the right strategic view in terms of where rail could return in importance to our island and would be transformative, in particular in providing access to the north west.

A report started looking at high-speed connectivity between Belfast, Dublin and Cork. There was then a political commitment to look further to the north west and other parts of the island. That search, looking to the north west, has drawn the possibility of that route. It would be transformative for the towns, counties and country that it would run through.

In response to Deputy Dillon, when we start thinking strategically about our national rail network, we have existing lines that are hardly used. One such line is the Waterford to Limerick line. Lord knows how many billions it would cost to build if we had to build it today. We face a strategic question of whether we abandon it. In my mind, the answer is "No". We need to extend it, something which is happening in terms of the services from Limerick to Ennis and Athenry. The section between Athenry and Claremorris is not just about those two counties. Rather, it is part of a longer route from Ballina and Westport through Claremorris down to Waterford and Wexford. The western rail corridor is not just a small section between Athenry and Claremorris; it comprises an entire route. In that context, it starts to make sense.

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