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

In response to Deputy Shanahan, we support rebalancing and providing opportunities for our regional ports. Rail freight would be an important component of that. Given the overall growth trajectory of the economy and the connection between port capacity and growth in GDP, it is likely that all our ports, including Dublin Port, will have a growth requirement.

It is important we look at the economic data and the projections on that. We are ambitious to develop our regional ports and the opportunities that arise from the all-island strategic rail review will be enormous and transformational if we can underpin the recommendations with investment over the coming years.

In response to Deputy Alan Farrell, I cannot give the specifics of what the rail review will set out. However, it is about trying to improve sustainable connectivity between cities, including potential for higher speed, enhancing regional accessibility, supporting balanced regional development and improving rail connectivity, including the role of rail freight. The review, itself, when it is published for environmental assessment in July, will set out the detail on the various options related to specific lines across the country

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