Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The rail freight market in Ireland is open. Currently, a commercial arm of Iarnród Éireann is active in the sector. While the rail freight industry has declined in Ireland in recent decades, there are clear opportunities for growth, as demonstrated by the success of the existing Ballina corridor.

Since Brexit, trade patterns between Ireland and continental Europe have shifted significantly. Containerised freight flows through ports on the south coast have increased and thereby offered potential for longer-distance freight routes from these ports. Furthermore, containerised freight is more amenable to switching modes from road to rail. Rising fuel costs and driver shortages also increase the competitiveness and appeal of rail freight, which can efficiently transport large quantities of goods in a single trip. Last year, Iarnród Éireann was awarded €2.5 million in EU funding which will, in line with the Deputy's suggestion, examine connections to the ports and also potential transfer points for freight between rail and road.

These opportunities for the growth of rail freight have been one of the areas under examination as part of the all-island strategic rail review. In freight, the review has explored opportunities for increasing rail freight’s market share to levels comparable with other western European countries.

Work on the review is at an advanced stage and it is expected that a draft will be published for the purposes of strategic environmental assessment public consultation in July. Following the public consultation process and finalisation of the report, it is expected that it will be submitted for the approval of the Minister for Transport and the Government in the autumn, as well as to the Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. Should there continue to be an absence of Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive, approval will be considered taking into account the decision-making framework set out in the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2022 or relevant legislation in place at the time.

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