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

This is an important issue, and Deputies want clarity, as I said.

First, the delay here is because we did not have an Assembly in the North. That has been very regrettable, but we did not sit back and do nothing. The publication, as part of the strategic environmental assessment, SEA, of the review gave the broad outline of what is contained within it. I do not expect significant changes. It will go to the Government this week and to the northern administration and will be cleared this month. Also, in advance of it being finally cleared by the Government, we have commissioned the European Investment Bank, EIB, to help us with the rail investment implementation strategy. That is taking the review and moving it forward as regards which projects we will prioritise in three ten-year blocks, the first of which will be from 2025 to 2035. That work has already started. It started back in April of this year. The EIB will engage in a six-stage approach to give us recommendations as to what we prioritise.

For clarity, to respond to Deputy Harkin, and I thought we had given this clarity the last time we had transport questions, it does not and will not include extension from Claremorris to Collooney. Some Deputies may argue otherwise, but a very detailed analysis was done on that and it will not be included. It may be very beneficial for us to preserve the line that is there by protecting it in public ownership, using it as a greenway and so on, but it will not be included as a recommendation and, therefore, will not be included in the recommendation of investment strategies.

To respond to Deputy Ó Cuív, I believe the western rail corridor should get priority just like the Finglas Luas. That is my answer. I will be honest and say, as we discussed at the transport committee meeting yesterday, that is probably not just an issue for the implementation strategy but will also be a manifesto question in advance of the next government being formed. In honesty, there are different views on this, including within the Deputy's party, as to the wisdom of our investing not so much in the north west but even a fundamental question about whether rail freight will have a role in our transport system. I say that because in the previous report that was done on this section between Athenry and Claremorris, there was too narrow a lens. The question asked by a series of reports was whether there was enough passenger demand to justify a service from Claremorris to Galway. They did not think big enough about a rail corridor running from Ballina all the way down the west coast into the south east. I think that requires a certain strategic decision by the political system that we will use it for freight as well as for passenger services. That makes the economic case for the line, I believe. I would give it real priority. Not all parties seem to be clear on that, and I ask Deputy Ó Cuív, within his own party, to provide any clarity he can. That would be very useful.

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