Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I am raising the issue of Crusheen railway station for a number of reasons. It was closed in 1976 but the infrastructure remains. It is not a big issue to reopen it. It should be reopened simply because the rail line between Limerick and Galway is now extremely successful. I take the train from Ennis to Dublin every week. I take it in both directions. I get it from Ennis to Limerick and on to Dublin. Sometimes I get it from Ennis to Athenry and on to Dublin. I return on a Thursday evening both ways again, regularly.

I have noticed in the last number of years, excluding the years of the pandemic, that the rail line between Limerick and Galway is extremely busy.Many students who would have traditionally lived in Galway or Limerick now live in Ennis and commute to Galway or Limerick. Similarly, there are students in Limerick commuting to college in Galway and vice versa. Aside from students, there are young professionals with jobs in Limerick who live in Ennis or with jobs in Galway who live in Limerick or Sixmilebridge. It is an extremely busy commuter line.

About 15 years ago when the western rail corridor was opened, there was much criticism that it would not work or be viable. The facts and figures speak for themselves. On a Thursday evening, in particular, one can just about get standing room on the trains between Limerick and Galway.

The Crusheen railway station is about six or seven minutes on the rail line between Ennis and Galway. A number of housing estates have been built in Crusheen in recent years and there is potential for many more. People living in communities around Crusheen, such as Corofin, Ruan and other areas closer to Ennis, would be more inclined and attracted to using Crusheen railway station.

My question is simple. We are not talking about building a new railway station but recommissioning an old station. That would be of enormous benefit to the people of Crusheen and the surrounding areas, and to County Clare and the rural areas of Ennis. It would be a statement by the Government and Iarnród Éireann that they are committed to people living in places like Crusheen and commuting. It would provide people with an easy way of commuting. Many of these railways stations are unmanned and automatic. The station in Oranmore, I understand, is automatic. There is no reason the station in Crusheen could not be automatic.

While I am on the issue, I will raise something I have campaigned about for a long time, namely standardised fares. People travelling from Maynooth to Dublin get 30% cheaper fares than those commuting from Ennis to Limerick, even though it is around the same distance. I am sure the Minister of State is aware of the same experience in Mayo for people using public transport to commute. It is not just with the railways but also with buses. In County Clare, there are two providers under the TFI brand, Bus Éireann and Local Link Limerick Clare. They charge different prices for the exact same journey. We need standardised fares. It makes sense. It is ridiculous we do not have them.

In our overall review of transport policy, we need to look at opening railways stations where it makes sense to do so and the infrastructure is in place. We also need to look at standardised fares.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir Conway as ucht an t-ábhar seo a ardú inniu.

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, who has responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport, including rail. However, the operation, maintenance and renewal of the rail network and stations on it, including the station at Crusheen, is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance.

Programme for Government: Our Shared Future commits to a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland. The Minister believes rail has a crucial role to play in achieving that change. It is vital we address constraints in the rail sector and deliver a network that allows rail to fulfil its potential in pursuit of decarbonisation and rural connectivity priorities and as a generator of prosperity for people across the island of Ireland. To that end, the Department of Transport has co-commissioned the all-island strategic rail review with the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure. The review is establishing the strategic context for investment in rail across the island in the coming decades. Work on the review is at a very advanced stage and a key consideration of the analysis is how the rail network can support regional and rural connectivity, as described by the Senator, encompassing service stopping patterns and the provision of stations. The delivery of any new rail infrastructure involves a multi-agency approach in the planning, design, funding and construction of a scheme. To protect the taxpayer, there are also guidelines and requirements in place surrounding the release of funds for capital infrastructure projects, which must be adhered to by all agencies wishing to draw down public funds. These are set out under the public spending code drawn up by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. Before Iarnród Éireann can receive public funding to proceed with any rail infrastructure scheme, the following conditions must be met. First, the proposal must align with transport and planning policy. Second, the proposal must have a robust business case in line with the public spending code, as well as the transport sector-specific appraisal guidelines. Third, a full demand assessment must be included as an input to the business case.

The Minister is not aware of any plans to reopen the station at Crusheen. However, as already noted, potential services and infrastructure along existing and potential new rail lines are being considered as part of the strategic rail review. Iarnród Éireann has advised that it will keep the case for a railway station at Crusheen under review in line with future demand trends, but at present there is no provision for a station with the current funding profile. I know the Senator raised the issue with Jim Meade, the CEO of Irish Rail, when he met the all-party group on rail last week, and I am sure it will be followed up from there.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply, the contents of which I note and am not 100% happy with. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is talking about opening new rail links and lines the length and breadth of the country. He is even talking about opening a rail line between Ennis and Shannon, and between Shannon and Limerick. I welcome that and it is an excellent proposal. He is talking about utilising the rail link around Limerick city to create a light rail service. That would be welcome and I would support it. In this case, the infrastructure is in place, the property is owned and there is a structure in place. It would not cost a fortune and it would make a whole lot of sense, yet the Minister is telling us it is not being considered. This proposal should be considered much sooner than the opening of rail lines between Limerick and Shannon. It should be done first because, sadly and unfortunately, we all know we will wait a long time for a rail link between Limerick, Shannon and Ennis. This is something that could be done quickly. The people of County Clare, particularly in Crusheen and the surrounding communities, will be most disappointed with the Minister's response to this Commencement matter.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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As I have outlined, operational issues such as the opening of stations are a matter for Iarnród Éireann, not the Minister for Transport. I have laid out the context of the all-island rail review, which is being finalised. I found from the cross-party meetings we had with Jim Meade last week that he was open to suggestions. I encourage Senator Conway to pursue the matter with him. As the Senator said, the success of the Limerick to Galway line, which was put in place by a former Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, is a testament to the fact that when a service is provided, people use it.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Annie Hoey (Labour)
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Before we move on to the third Commencement matter, I welcome a group of councillors from Donegal who I am sure also have lots of thoughts on train lines. They are here for the exceedingly pressing issue of mica. I welcome Councillors Michael McBride, Kevin Bradley, Ian McGarvey, Pauric McGarvey and Niamh Kennedy. I extend a super warm welcome to my Labour Party colleague, Councillor Martin Farren. They are most welcome to the Chamber.