Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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124. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the Limerick to Ballybrophy rail line, in view of the fact that much of the line has been upgraded. [9882/15]

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Following concerns about it closing, I ask the Minister about the Ballybrophy, Roscrea, Cloughjordan, Nenagh, Limerick railway line. There is a report of a consultation process due and he might outline the Government's stance on that.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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There were over 27,000 total passenger journeys on the line to which Deputy Stanley refers.

The position in relation to funding for the rail network is that I have the funding in place due to a Supplementary Estimate that I introduced before Christmas to maintain the rail network as it stands currently. I accept that different parts of the network meet existing regional needs on which we touched earlier in the debate on rural bus services. That funding is in place to maintain those lines.

It is my intention to initiate a consultation process on the future of rail in the country because it is important that people are clear on the level of funding that is going into rail at present and the consequences of that funding on the Department's ability to deliver other transport objectives.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Stanley may ask one supplementary only.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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The Minster's reply indicates that the number of passengers on that line has increased, if it is 27,000, because it was reported locally that there were 23,000 passengers, which is a drop of 1,000 on the previous year.

It is an important service. It serves a regional need, from south Laois right down through north Tipperary and into Limerick Junction, and it is important that it is retained. Students use it. Commuters use it for work in Limerick. Residents from south Laois take the train from Ballybrophy.

The line has been upgraded in recent years. There has been substantial funding put into the line, particularly from Roscrea southward, and it is important that we do not close it after upgrading it. There is a section of it still to be upgraded.

The Government should ensure that Iarnród Éireann comes forward with a business plan to grow the amount of business on the line. I will not have the opportunity to contribute again because of time, but I ask also that the line should be used for freight. What is Iarnród Éireann doing to develop the level of freight business on that line? Currently, it is used only for passengers. It is not used 23 hours a day. We should be looking at getting other business onto the tracks. The tracks are there and there was considerable funding put into it. We need to develop the business. I would like to see such opportunities being taken up.

Also, Iarnród Éireann should strive to increase the number of passengers using the service. There is potential to develop both tourism and freight services along with the ordinary passenger services. I would like the Minister to get Iarnród Éireann to bring forward a plan for that railway line.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I make two points in response to Deputy Stanley. First, there has been an increase overall in the number of passengers who avail of train services on the rail network. There was an increase in funding of €101 million or 3% last year over the previous year. This is a reflection of the changes made by Irish Rail and also the economic recovery that is underway.

On Deputy Stanley's particular point on that line, I emphasise that I have the funding in place to maintain the network as it stands at present for the foreseeable future but we need to have a debate and broader understanding in the country regarding the amount of funding that goes into sustaining the heavy rail network and its consequences for the decisions that we need to make for all of the land transport needs in the country for the years to come.