Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will introduce a rail freight subsidy on a per tonne basis for materials that are transferred from existing road freight onto rail freight; if his Department has examined developing new rail lines to facilitate modern freight flows; if he will ensure that the Limerick to Foynes rail line will be urgently reconnected to the national network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3412/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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There is substantial ongoing current and capital Exchequer funding in the development and operation of the railway network. Total Exchequer funding allocated to Iarnród Éireann for 2008 amounts to more than €720 million. While I have no proposals to introduce a rail freight subsidy on a per tonne basis for materials transferred from road freight to rail freight, the potential to expand rail freight will be considered as part of the consultation process I intend to launch shortly on the development of a Sustainable Transport Action Plan.

A number of new railway lines – the Western Rail Corridor, the Cork-Midleton rail link, the Navan rail link and the Interconnector – are currently being developed. These will enhance the overall capacity of the network for passenger and freight traffic.

The position regarding the Limerick to Foynes railway line is that no rail freight traffic has operated on the Foynes branch line since December 2000. Since that time, the line has been maintained on a care and maintenance basis. In the meantime, I understand that Iarnród Éireann has undertaken some track renewal and realignment works in the Limerick area. It is normal practice when such work is undertaken not to renew or replace sections of line not currently in use. I have also been informed by Iarnród Éireann that the connection to the Foynes line was life-expired and, as there is no current requirement for it, Iarnród Éireann concluded that it would be unnecessary to incur the cost of renewing it. Iarnród Éireann advises that there are potential hazards from having long-term unused sets of points on the network.

However, the company state that if a viable business case emerged which justified traffic on the line, the connection could be easily reinstated at little cost. No works have been done or will be done in the Limerick area which would prevent reinstatement in the future.