Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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107. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress being made towards reopening the western rail corridor; if a decision on reopening the rail line will be made in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8894/25]

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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I ask the Minister of State to outline the progress that has been made towards the reopening of the western rail corridor. Will a decision be made in respect of that rail line in the near future? As the Minister of State will know, it is a long-awaited project that is absolutely critical to the west of Ireland.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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As the Deputy is probably aware, this is a project I have been pursuing for a long number of years. The final report of the all-island strategic rail review was published in July last year, following extensive public consultation. The report sets out 32 recommendations to enhance and expand the rail system in Ireland and Northern Ireland up to 2050, aligning with decarbonisation commitments in both jurisdictions.

The recommendations seek to transform the quality of the rail system to the benefit of passengers and wider society on the island, through additional track capacity, electrification, increased speeds and higher service frequencies, and new and reinstated rail lines. Included in these recommendations is the work on the reinstatement of the western rail corridor between Athenry and Claremorris, which should commence in 2030. However, the programme for Government commits to working collaboratively to act on the recommendations of the rail review. Assisted by the European Investment Bank advisory services, my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, and agencies north and south of the Border, are working to progress the rail review's recommendations in the years ahead.

This work will additionally inform my Department's engagement on the review of the current national development plan, which is planned to take place this year. It should also be noted that individual programmes and projects referred to within the rail review will be advanced subject to funding and relevant approvals, as required under the infrastructure guidelines. The publication of the rail review provides a very useful evidence-informed basis for our engagement with the national development plan review later this year.

We are already investing in rail in Galway, with Ceannt Station being developed and with the passing loop at Oranmore, which gives us better frequency of services from Athenry to Galway.

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister of State. The benefits of this project are clear and well-known. I know that the Minister of State knows the benefits very well. I recognise that he has been a long-time supporter of the rail line. I hope he will now deliver on it in government. It is critical for economic development in the west, people's mobility, taking cars off the road and addressing the chronic traffic problems in Galway. There are significant numbers of commuters in our constituency, including students and people attending hospital and so on, who are stuck in traffic for hours each day coming into and leaving Galway. This project would benefit them. It is critical for economic and balanced regional development, as the Minister of State knows well. We need State investment in our infrastructure to address that deficit.

Did I pick up the Minister of State correctly on the timeline? Did he say he expects the project to commence in 2030? Is there a clear timeline?

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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There is a timeline. I said that the all-island rail review mentioned a start date of 2030. However, with the review of the national development plan, and in view of the fact that the project does not need planning permission or a rail order, it is a project that can be implemented a lot quicker than that. I hope to talk to and continue to engage with officials. In the context of the national development plan, we hope to ensure that this project gets going as soon as possible.

As we said earlier, it is important that we are a Government of implementation rather than one that does strategies. We need to implement the plans we have. We have the money to invest. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, this is a project that will connect Ballina, Westport, Castlebar, Claremorris, Tuam and Athenry, and will run down into Limerick and Cork Port, over to Waterford Port, out to Foynes and into Galway. It is bringing back that link to give us connectivity along the Atlantic economic corridor. I will be working with might and main to achieve that in the shortest time possible.