Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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13. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on his Department's engagements to date on the reopening of Killucan train station, County Westmeath. [20741/23]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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I want an update on the Department's engagement on the reopening of the Killucan train station on the Mullingar–Sligo line. I am aware the Minister is very familiar with this area and met members of Westmeath County Council a year ago or so. I have been asking questions about this matter since the Minister's predecessor, Mr. Shane Ross, was in the Department. There has been a lot of talk about the train station but it has not been matched by any significant action to date. Any update that the Minister could give would be much appreciated.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I am glad to confirm that my Department has engaged with Iarnród Éireann on a possible future station in the Killucan–Kinnegad area. An initial discussion on the potential reopening of Killucan station took place between my Department and Iarnród Éireann on 15 June 2022. Following this discussion, Iarnród Éireann was asked by my Department to prepare an estimate of the level of funding that might be required to progress a feasibility study considering new station options in Killucan and the surrounding area.

Earlier this year, my Department met again with Iarnród Éireann and subsequently made funding available to the company to allow it to undertake a Killucan–Rathwire and Kinnegad area transport environs study. As well as considering the former station at Killucan, the wider geographic scope of the environs study will help to ensure the optimal location for any future potential station is identified with respect to population, transport demand and proximity to the existing network. This study will provide the necessary analysis to determine the viability of a future station in the area if such a station is deemed appropriate by the study. Ultimately, if the opening of a new station in the area is to be progressed, it will be necessary for Westmeath County Council to develop the business case in line with the requirements of the public spending code. I am informed that the council has been informed of this position; however, this study is a vital first step and it is appropriate that it be funded by my Department.

The Deputy may wish to note the ongoing work on the all-island strategic rail review, the results of which will inform the development of the railway sector in Ireland over the coming decades.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the announcement on the funding of the study. It is a positive step but we need to be very clear. The Minister spoke earlier about people being stuck for hours in traffic. I challenge him to find somebody within the greater Kinnegad area who has not had that experience. The Minister also spoke about retrofitting bus services. We need to be honest when we speak about Killucan train station. The line already exists. There was a train station in situuntil the early 1960s. The campaign has been ongoing for decades. What is the starting date of the study? What will be its duration? When can we expect a decision from Iarnród Éireann on a finalised study?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I do not have the detail on the exact starting date but am sure it is imminent. The funding has been provided. Given that the starting date is for a study rather than building works, I see no reason it should not be in the immediate future, but I will revert to the Deputy on it.

I mentioned Westmeath County Council in my contribution. It is important that we frame the decision not only as a transport decision but also as a housing decision because it is critical that we get transport-led development and that we know, when putting in new transport infrastructure, that we can put in housing infrastructure with it. It is matter of having the water services, schools and all the other elements in place. The selection of the best spot for a station of the kind in question depends on the council's plans not just for transport but also for housing and all the associated services.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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Unfortunately, this was a situation where housing was delivered first and the transport has lagged behind. Since this train station closed in the 1960s, the area has seen a massive rise in population of approximately 300%. About 8,000 people live within 5 km of this station. If you extrapolate from those figures, the population numbers get higher and higher. The line is there. It already exists. What is lacking to provide a reliable and sustainable mode of public transport for people in that area is for the trains to stop at a train station.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I have looked at this issue and the local area in detail. The historical train station is 1 km or 2 km from the village of Killucan and there is no housing adjacent to the station. This is one of the issues the council must consider. If we do put a station, where will we put it on such a route? What are the housing plans for the area? It would be hugely beneficial if we connected the two and made sure it was not a station removed by any distance from the main housing centres.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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Given its location, it would service more than the town of Killucan.