Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Feighan for the opportunity to address this issue in the Seanad today. The Senator will be aware the Government recently launched Project Ireland 2040. This plan includes the national development framework and the ten-year national development plan. The role and potential of rail is intrinsically linked to where people live, work and wish to travel and these very issues form the core of Project Ireland 2040. In line with the recommendations of the Department’s 2015 strategic investment framework for land transport, a continuing key priority for investment in transport under the national development plan will be to protect the quality and value of the existing extensive rail network.This will ensure quality levels of service, accessibility and connectivity to transport users. Prioritisation of this type of investment is also a key finding of the recent public investment management assessment which was conducted by the International Monetary Fund at the invitation of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

The national development plan recognises the important role that rail can play in enhancing regional connectivity and commits to looking at improving journey times on the inter-urban rail network to improve connectivity. A contract is under way to introduce 28 rail carriages for the inter-urban rail network. These carriages are expected to re-enter service in 2019. Irish Rail and the National Transport Authority are also assessing the availability of additional fleet. This fleet could be introduced to passenger service on the rail network in the short term prior to the delivery of new diesel electric trains expected in 2022. This programme of new diesel electric trains would enable the enlargement of the rail fleet by approximately some 300 new rail carriages.

On the Dublin-Sligo rail services specifically, I have been informed by Irish Rail that the company plans to expand services during 2018, subject to the approval of the National Transport Authority. It is planned to increase services from seven trains each way daily to eight trains each way daily in response to rising demand. Irish Rail has advised me that while the vast majority of services on the Dublin-Sligo line cater adequately for demand at present, the trends clearly indicate that capacity will come under increasing pressure in the coming years. Already, Irish Rail has increased the capacity on selected services on Fridays and Sundays on the route. I will also ask Irish Rail to provide directly to Senator Feighan further details on the planned enhanced services.

The national development plan includes five-year multi-annual capital envelopes for the period 2018 to 2022 for all Departments. As part of the annual Estimates process, the multi-annual capital allocations will be reviewed and extended annually on a rolling basis to cover the coming five-year period. This will provide Government with an annual opportunity to review the allocations in light of any implementation issues arising or new priorities that may emerge as the national development plan is implemented. The NDP also commits to a full mid-term review of the national development plan in 2022 to allow Government to take stock of progress in terms of delivery of the planned projects and programmes and to allow Government to review and reaffirm its investment priorities. The review will be carried out to prepare and publish a new updated ten-year plan for public capital investment in 2023 covering the period 2023 to 2032.

I thank Senator Feighan for his interest in the matter. As I have outlined, the funding priority for the inter-urban rail network is ensuring that the existing extensive network is maintained to a high level to ensure quality levels of service, accessibility and connectivity to transport users.