Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)

I thank the Deputy for the question. As she may be aware, my Department provides public service obligation, PSO, funding for socially beneficial but financially unviable public transport services across the country. In 2023, Iarnród Éireann was allocated €187 million in PSO funding by the Department, increasing to €215 million in 2024. This is expected to further rise to €265 million this year. All of this provides for an improvement to rail passenger services. The funding has enabled Iarnród Éireann to increase the frequency of rail passenger services in County Offaly, including at Clara and Tullamore stations. I highlight the additional weekday and Sunday train services on the Dublin to Galway line, which serves Clara and Tullamore, announced in 2023 and 2024. In addition, last year, train services were added and amended to allow passengers travelling from Tullamore to Galway to avail of two weekday services arriving in Galway in advance of 9 a.m.

In terms of rail infrastructure improvements, assisted by the European Investment Bank Advisory service, the Department, the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland and rail stakeholders North and South are currently examining how best to implement the recommendations of the all-island strategic rail review published in July last year. This work includes a project prioritisation strategy which is at an advanced stage of preparation. It will consider both short-term and medium-term investments on the rail network, including the Dublin to Galway line. This work is also being used to inform the Department's engagement on the review of the national development plan, which is ongoing. Funding in recent years has helped to provide the people of Offaly with a more frequent rail service. I look forward to working with Iarnród Éireann to build on this progress in the years to come.

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