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

The Senator's first question was about the approval process. As I said, a draft report is being finalised. The Minister expects to receive that within the next month. The draft report will be submitted to the Ministers for approval, as well as the Irish Government. The necessary approvals, based on what has been provided to me today, would be from both Executives, that is, the Government here and the Executive in the North. The Department will then publish the report. Until the report is published, it would be premature to discuss publication arrangements or specific projects within the report. That is the approval process.

Uniquely, the strategic rail review is being conducted on an all-Ireland basis, in full co-operation with our colleagues in the Northern Ireland Executive and at an official level within the Department for Infrastructure, to provide a holistic overview of the potential of rail on the island. The review is considering the scope for improved railway services and infrastructure along the various existing and potential future corridors, including disused and closed railways. It would be premature to commit to the reopening of the western rail corridor or any line before the review is finalised. It should be noted that the reopening of disused lines is endorsed by the review. A comprehensive body of work would still be required before any such decision is taken, in accordance with the public spending code and other guidelines and regulations. Reopening the line to passenger traffic would initially involve a detailed baseline survey to understand the requirements to bring the line back within operating safety and regulatory compliance.

As I said, the Government is not waiting to continue to invest in the rail network. I made reference to DART programmes and Cork commuter programmes in this regard. The Senator's points are well made. I will bring them back to the Minister.