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

The bridge will cost something. The project will be paid for from the same budget that we need for a range of other projects. I have asked officials to contact TII. I have also asked them to look at that issue, because I was informed of it. We need to get clarity about the planning. I understand that it may have been a condition of the planning that the bridge would be reinstated in the event of the line being restored. We would have to adhere to the planning conditions.

In answer to the Deputy's fundamental question, we need to start looking at all the engineering details. My understanding is that the line is not in as degraded a condition as the Shannon Foynes to Limerick line was. It had been cleared over the years. It is reasonably intact. We need to look at all the engineering aspects so that we can start to prepare a business proposal for this. It is not in the existing NDP. It is not budgeted for. This will require shifting money around so that it can be afforded. I believe the shift to rail freight is key and will unlock the economics of this project. It is not just Athenry to Claremorris. It is about reopening the Rosslare line, about Dublin Port having to shift towards rail freight, and the same in Shannon Foynes. That is happening. The wider world is going in this direction. We can revive our rail system and the west of Ireland on the back of it.

See this speech in context