Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Chambers for the opportunity to address this issue. I would first like to outline the Minister for Transport's belief in the potential of rail. The Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options, and the rail network plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. As the Senator is aware, the Department of Transport, in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, has commissioned an all-island strategic rail review. The two Departments have collaborated closely throughout the review. The Ministers for Transport and Infrastructure have met on several occasions to launch the review, announce the public consultation and to be updated on the latest progress. The results of the review will inform the development of the railway sector on the island of Ireland over the coming decades.

The strategic rail review considers the future of the rail network with regard to the following ambitions: improving sustainable connectivity between the major cities, including the potential for high or higher speed rail; enhancing regional accessibility; and supporting balanced regional development and rail connectivity to our international gateways. The review is considering the scope for improved rail services and infrastructure along the various existing or potential future corridors of the network, including disused and closed lines, such as the western rail corridor, which the Senator made reference to. The review has been informed by a public consultation process, which concluded last year and which received a great response both North and South.

A draft report is being finalised. I have made inquiries WITH the Minister and his officials ,and I expect the Minister will receive a draft of the report within the next month. The draft report will be submitted for approval to both Ministers, as well as the Irish Government. After the necessary approvals have been secured, the Department of Transport will publish the report. Until the report is finalised, it would be premature to discuss publication arrangements or specific projects within the report. However, it is worth emphasising that this has been a collaborative effort between the two Departments from the outset. This is the first all-island review of the network since the formation of the State and will provide a framework to develop a much-improved rail network in the decades ahead. I look forward to its publication as I believe the review will provide an opportunity for transformative system change.

I feel it is also important that the Senator notes the huge investment already being made in our rail network. I note the point she raised in respect of the Northern Ireland Secretary. My understanding is that if the assembly is not restored by 18 January next year, he will then request an election within 12 weeks. We live in hope that it will be restored prior to that date. I note the Senator's point and it is a matter I will bring back to the Minister.

The DART+ programme will triple the amount of electrified track in the greater Dublin area from 50 km to 150 km, resulting in a lower carbon and higher capacity system, with more frequent and faster passenger services. I will just cover these projects generally. A ten-year fleet arrangement between Irish Rail and Alstom also received Government approval in December 2021. The rail network in Cork is benefiting from significant new investment. The Government also recognises the importance of the rail freight sector. I am pleased that funding has been announced for redevelopment of Ceannt Station in Galway and track and station improvements at Oranmore. Both projects are scheduled to be completed by 2024 or 2025. In November 2022, the Government approved the final business case for the Waterford North Quays project, allocating over €170 million in Exchequer funding to the project.

I thank the Senator for her interest in this matter and look forward to hearing her comments. I note the points she raised. I will come back on some of the other points in my concluding remarks.