Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport his plans regarding the development of the western rail corridor, and the Galway outer bypass. [13682/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding for public transport and the national roads programme. The Government has announced the preparation of a new capital investment framework for these projects for the period from 2012. This will involve a review of all capital programmes and projects to establish a set of priorities that will contribute to economic recovery. The results will be published as a new national development plan for the period 2012-2016.

The preparation of the new framework requires that my Department review all existing projects and programmes. The review which involves consultation with relevant agencies will take account of new funding realities. A major priority will be to ensure funding to protect and maintain existing investment and maintain high safety standards. This of necessity will restrict the funding for new projects with only those offering the highest return having any prospect of being prioritised. The development of phase 2 of the western rail corridor will be considered as part of the overall capital review.

The main part of the Galway outer bypass scheme was approved by An Bord Pleanála in 2008 but cannot proceed as this approval was the subject of judicial review proceedings which have culminated with a referral by the Supreme Court to the European Court of Justice of the question of the correct interpretation of Article 6(3) of the habitats directive and of Regulation 30 of the Habitats Regulations 1997.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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I am reminded of the €40 million the Minister said he had got from some of the projects. The western rail corridor is a vital area of our infrastructure. The Minister has said he will review it in the plan for 2012 to 2016. It is vital for our tourism to put in such important rail links which that area does not have. The Minister seems to have indicated that it will go down the road a good distance, but I urge that it be looked at very seriously as soon as possible.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that we are looking at it and needless to say it would cost considerably more than €40 million to complete the next phase.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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I was talking about what the Minister said earlier.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy's first contribution was to say that we should definitely proceed with metro north and his last contribution was to say that we should definitely proceed with the following phase of the western rail corridor. The problem I have is a different one as I am sure he can imagine.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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We have to have a list for the projects.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Absolutely; it is prioritisation.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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We live in hope.