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

No, but that is just the reality. The reopening of the western rail corridor is of vital strategic importance for the national planning framework and better balanced regional development in our country. It should include the section between Athenry and Claremorris. It does not propose an extension to Sligo. However, the reopening from Athenry to Claremorris is of huge benefit because effectively it creates a western rail corridor running all the way from Ballina right down the west coast down to the south east. It would require the reopening of the Rosslare line as well. That gives us the capability of reviving rail freight, which is going to be critical for the development of the west, and also meet our decarbonisation targets. That is contended. Some people argue against that and do not believe it is economically viable and hold that it does not have a future. I believe it does. We need to make a decision quickly.

I have commissioned the European Investment Bank to advise us on the ordering and the priority that we would apply to the many, various projects set out in the strategic rail review. That work has started. As soon as the review is published, it will help us to start making investment decisions that favour the west, favour decarbonisation and the revival of rail freight, which would also then allow passenger services to follow. That will be a political decision. Other political parties have different views on that possibility and that should be the centre of our discussions because it will be the allocation of funding and the timing of the projects that will be key. The western rail corridor should be given first and top priority.

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