Seanad debates
Tuesday, 12 May 2026
Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters
Rail Network
2:00 am
Linda Nelson Murray (Fine Gael)
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I sincerely thank the Minister of State for coming in to discuss the Navan rail project, a project that has become almost mythical for the people of County Meath. When I mention the Navan rail line to people in my home town of Navan, they sigh. They do not believe it is happening. For 25 years, the people of Navan and Meath have heard promises, announcements, timelines and commitments. Generation after generation has listened to politicians say the railway is coming. Now I hear things like, "I'll be retired before it happens", "I'll be dead before it happens" or "Sure we've heard all that before". That is the level of frustration and disbelief that exists, yet today feels different. For the first time in a long time, we are not talking about vague ambition; we are talking about funding to move to planning permission, a public consultation on the preferred route within weeks and a real pathway towards delivery.
What the Minister of State says today matters enormously because the people of Meath need clarity and certainty. They need to hear clearly and unequivocally that this railway is happening and Navan will finally be connected to Dublin by rail. County Meath now has a population of over 230,000 people. We are one of the fastest growing counties in Ireland yet, every single morning, thousands of people are trapped in endless traffic on the M3. We are also the county with the highest number of commuters.
This is not just about inconvenience any more; it is affecting people's quality of life. Long commutes are linked to higher stress, anxiety, burnout, mental fatigue, work-family conflict, increased blood pressure and poor health conditions. Families are losing hours every day sitting in traffic instead of spending time with their children. This rail line is not a luxury project or a vanity project; it is essential national infrastructure. It is the single biggest transport investment we can deliver for County Meath, one that would remove thousands of cars from our roads every day, reduce congestion, support climate targets, improve quality of life and unlock economic growth for Meath and the wider region. Now is the moment. Let the people of Meath finally see the preferred route. Let them have their say through public consultation and let us move decisively towards planning permission and delivery.After 25 years of waiting, the people of Meath deserve more than promises. They deserve progress. I hope that the Minister of State can confirm today that we remain on track for the next key milestone of planning permission, namely, a railway order in 2028.
Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for her advocacy. I can hear the frustration in her remarks about the mythical Navan rail line. I know many of her predecessors have been raising the matter in this House as well. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I am pleased to say that I have definitive answers to give the Senator about this matter.
The national transport strategy for the greater Dublin area sets out a framework for transport investment across the region for 20 years from 2020 to 2042. The issue of a rail connection between Dublin and Navan has been examined as part of the development strategy and that examination supports the development of a rail line from Dublin to Navan. The strategy includes delivery of the Navan rail line between 2031 and 2036 subject to planning and funding approvals. Delivery of this project is currently proceeding on target and to this timeline. The NDP sectoral investment plan published by the Department of Transport last November has allocated funding to advance the Navan rail line to submission of a planning application or a railway order.
In 2024, the National Transport Authority allocated funding to Iarnród Éireann for the establishment of a design team to commence work on the Navan rail line. This work involves the route option selection, planning and design phase of the project. Iarnród Éireann has commenced the procurement process for the pre-construction phase of the project and issued a tender to pre-qualified consultants at the end of May 2024. In November 2024, multidisciplinary consultants RPS were appointed for the duration of the project to work with the rail company's in-house project team. This work has now reached the next milestone.
I am pleased to confirm to the Senator and the House that the emerging preferred route for the Navan rail line will be announced with the launch of the first non-statutory public consultation next week, on Wednesday 20 May. This announcement will be welcome news not only for Navan but for commuters further afield who currently have no choice but to use the M3 motorway, whether by car or by coach. I hope this will end the mythical comment about the rail line. The public consultation process will ultimately result in a defined role for the line and it will support the development of a preliminary business case, which will need to be approved in line with requirements of the infrastructure guidelines before any planning application is made. Subject to approval of the primary business case, it is anticipated that a railway order will be lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála in 2028.
On behalf of the Minister for Transport, I hope this response helps clarify the matter. I thank the Senator for her advocacy and for raising the matter and I hope that we will see the work commence in the lifetime of this Seanad and Government and that there will be tracks on the line.
Linda Nelson Murray (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for coming in and giving this answer to my Commencement matter. I ask him to pass on my gratitude to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, because the Minister of State has just given me the answer. I had a feeling in my waters that it was going to come in the next week or two, so I am delighted to be able to tell people in Navan that we will have the opening of the public consultation on Wednesday 20 May. I am sure the Minister will be delighted to tell the people of Navan that as well.
I am also really happy to see that we are still on track - pardon the pun - and that a railway order will be lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála in 2028, which is only two years away. I believe this is the furthest we have gone on the Navan rail project. This is all on record today from the Minister and the Minister of State. I am very happy this is happening in the way it is.
Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising the matter on an ongoing basis and for her advocacy. The greater Dublin area transport strategy framework has a window for investment. The rail connection between Dublin and Navan was examined as part of the development of the strategy and, based on that examination, it is included in the final plan.The strategy aims to see the delivery of the project between 2021 and 2026, and under the national development plan funding is allocated to advance the Navan rail line project to the submission of a detailed planning application for a railway order.
The Senator is right that the next milestone will be next week, on 20 May, with the announcement of the emerging preferred route for the line and the launch of the first non-statutory public consultation. That public consultation process, which will ultimately result in a defined route for the line, gives an opportunity for all involved and all interested to study the proposals, submit their views and have their voices heard.
It is anticipated that a railway order will be lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála in 2028.
Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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Before we move on to our next Commencement matter, I welcome New York Congressman Tim Kennedy's son, Connor, who is in the Gallery along with some of his friends: Lucy Doherty, Jacob Cappuccilli and Esameldeen Hammouda. They are all very welcome. They are guests of Deputy Cormac Devlin.
Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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Could I make a comment? Congressman Kennedy is a good friend of mine. His election to Congress was an extraordinary day for Irish-America. To his son, céad míle fáilte. Every year, Congressman Kennedy sends me a birthday greeting. He is a true friend of Ireland. As a Minister of State, I have worked with him on transport and connectivity around his beloved state of New York. We are very fortunate to have a man of his calibre working with us in the US Congress. I thank the Acting Chairperson for his indulgence.
Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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The Minister of State is very welcome. I thank him for his remarks.
I also welcome Caitlín Ní Chaoindealbháin and Aoife Butler, who are guests of Deputy Maurice Quinlivan. They are very welcome, too. I have no doubt that they have all been well looked after. I hope and expect they will be brought to the dining room later.