Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 120: To ask the Minister for Transport when he expects to receive the report of the working group evaluating the potential for the phased reopening of the Sligo-Cork rail route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26985/04]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My predecessor set up an expert working group to carry out an examination of the western rail corridor proposal and to examine the potential for reopening the line. The working group, which is chaired by Mr. Pat McCann, chief executive of JurysDoyle Hotel Group plc, has held two meetings to date as well as a number of sub-group meetings. I understand that the next meeting of the group is to be held in Sligo on 5 November.

The working group is comprised of county managers, directors of the regional authorities, representatives of city and county development boards, the Western Development Commission, West-on-Track and the intercounty rail committee, Iarnród Éireann, the Railway Procurement Agency and my Department. The working group is examining and evaluating all aspects of the western rail corridor and while the group has been asked to conclude its deliberations as quickly as possible, no time limit has been set on how long this might be. I am, however, planning to meet the chairman of the group shortly to hear about how the work of the group is progressing.