Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Minister for Transport I thank the Deputy for his comments and his interest on this important issue. As I mentioned, Iarnród Éireann has been monitoring this east coast rail line and the effects of coastal erosion on it for many years. In noting the increase in severity and frequency of erosion impacts Iarnród Éireann has developed a series of infrastructure protection projects known as the east coast railway infrastructure protection project, ECRIPP. The project, with indicative costs of €230 million in 2020 prices, was included in the National Development Plan 2021 to 2030. It is planned that it will be delivered over the coming seven years under a series of work packages for each major location including Bray Head to Greystones north beach, Newcastle to Wicklow and the Dalkey tunnel to Killiney station.

Iarnród Éireann is currently developing project concepts feasibility and options selection. During this phase the project team is undertaking physical assessment and evaluating the environmental constraints of each of the key locations. Using an objective assessment methodology, Iarnród Éireann will develop appropriate measures termed options and consider the risk associated with each option in terms of addressing coastal erosion. The project team is currently undertaking surveys that will further develop design options and solutions for key locations. Iarnród Éireann will seek to present the emerging preferred option for individual locations to the public as part of the non-statutory public consultation in spring 2024. Feedback on the proposal will be incorporated into further design developments which will culminate with submissions for the necessary statutory consents in autumn 2024. To reassure the Deputy, measures are being taken to protect and maintain the rail network generally and specifically with regard to the east coast rail line through the ECRIPP.

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