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

I am not aware of the exact number of those options. It may be five, as the Deputy suggests, but it certainly is a range of different options, including running alongside a rail line and other greenfield routes.

Any such process goes through a public consultation process. The timing here could be fortuitous. Fundamentally, what I see happening is the strategic rail review coming before any further decision on any major investment. That, I expect, certainly if we get a Northern Ireland assembly returned within a short period. That will be one of the first items on the agenda. We need speed on making decisions on the likes of the western rail corridor so that every business along the route knows this is the way we are going. When we make freight decisions or other decisions, such as housing development decisions, they will know exactly what is happening, particularly on that section from Athenry to Claremorris. That decision comes first. Once that decision is made, it will give greater clarity for all the other investments in greenways and elsewhere.

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