Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh Ghníomhach, agus buíochas libh as ucht fáilte a chur romham chuig an Teach seo. I thank the Senator on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, for the opportunity to address this issue. As the Senator has acknowledged, I do a lot of work with West on Track and we are very much aware of South East on Track and indeed the work of Councillor Whelan on this matter.

As the Senator indicated, rail services on this line ceased in 2010 under an agreement made between the National Transport Authority and larnród Éireann. A number of improvements were made to bus services at the time to ensure continued public transport connectivity. While the line has been closed in recent years, the port in New Ross remains open for business. The location of the Barrow bridge on the River Barrow means that the ability to open the bridge is critical to ensuring navigational access to the port. Iarnród Éireann continues to operate this bridge with all its unique properties as referred to by the Senator, for this purpose.

A maintenance arrangement is in place to allow for the line's continued maintenance since the decision to remove passenger services. In 2019, a number of revised arrangements were agreed between the National Transport Authority, NTA, and larnród Éireann regarding the line. These revised arrangements include: obligations to review level crossing surfaces each year; to review the boundary protection along the line each year; and to conduct bridge inspections every two years, in line with larnród Éireann's technical standards. In addition, the agreement between the NTA and Iarnród Éireann requires that a general review of the line be undertaken on an annual basis. The purpose of the general review is to assess the overall condition of the line to provide a current status assessment of the infrastructure each year. As acknowledged, the Minister for Transport, in cooperation with the Northern Ireland Minister for Infrastructure, has commissioned an all-Ireland strategic rail review to help inform the development of interurban and interregional rail on the island of Ireland in the coming decades. It will also consider the potential scope for improved rail services and infrastructure, alongside the various existing or future potential corridors of the network including disused and closed lines. The provision of rail services on the Wexford to Waterford line is being considered in this context. An important aspect of the review will be to consider the potential for rail freight and whether opportunities exist to increase its role.

It is also the case that Waterford and Rosslare ports handle different types of cargo and that influences the potential suitability of developing rail freight at each port. As the Senator acknowledged, Waterford Port handles lift-on lift-off freight, which is suitable for rail freight, while Rosslare is principally a roll-on roll-off port, where freight is accompanied by drivers, which does not lend itself easily to rail freight.

The Minister for Transport believes there is real potential for Ireland's ports in the area of offshore renewable energy. That is why he published a policy statement on the matter last December which makes it clear to the offshore industry that the Government is committed to the provision of port facilities in Ireland for offshore energy developments. In that regard, he very much welcomes the fact that Rosslare Europort has ambitious plans to develop an offshore renewable hub.At a broader level, the Minister for Transport has no doubt but that the Senator's wish is to see rail services running again on this line. The Minister is also aware that there are those who would like to develop the route as a greenway and build on the work already undertaken or under way in the south east to create a network of attractive greenways spanning the region. As the Senator acknowledges, however, there is nothing to stop the two projects from running together. I will forward that view to the Minister.

The future development of the line, in whatever form it takes, will be informed by the results of the forthcoming final report of the All Island Strategic Rail Review, which I understand from my work with the western rail corridor will come relatively shortly.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Senator.