Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the State has undertaken a very onerous financial commitment as a result of the inclusion of the Cork-Shannon part of the western arc from Cork to Belfast on the EU CEF list of pre-identified projects; and if it is pre-identification on this TEN-T CEF list requires Ireland to build a fully electrified ERTMs railway between Shannon and Cork by 2030. [9015/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Trans-European Network (TEN-T) and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) were published by the European Commission in October, 2011. These were proposed by the European Commission and are currently being discussed in the European Council and in the European Parliament and therefore, have not yet been agreed.

It is important to note that the TEN-T Core Network was proposed by the European Commission and not by Member-States. The proposal as it currently stands comprises the most important links and nodes on the European rail network and has been devised by the Commission based on various criteria including traffic demand. In Ireland, the Belfast-Dublin-Cork railway line has been designated by the Commission as a Priority Project in the current TEN-T network and has been put forward for inclusion in the proposed new Core Network.

Based on the criteria published by the Commission, the only other rail line, outside of the Dublin and Cork Areas, which might be eligible for inclusion in the new Core Network is the Limerick/Foynes rail line. This line was proposed by Ireland to the European Commission on the basis of its potential use for the transport of freight to Foynes Port. Should this potential not be realised, the Foynes line would not be expected to be included in either the Core or Comprehensive networks. No other railway line existing or proposed on this island would carry the volume of passengers or freight to meet the Commission's criteria. There is no proposal for a Shannon-Cork railway line referred to by the Deputy.

In the discussions that are currently underway between the Commission, member-states and the European Parliament, it is the intention to ensure that Ireland's unique circumstances are taken into account in the final text of the TEN-T and the Connecting Europe Facility regulations. Arising from our input to the negotiations to date the most recent draft proposals contain an exemption from the ERTMS requirement for railways such as Ireland's that have a different rail gauge and which are detached from the main rail lines of the EU.

Subject to the exemption Ireland will support the thrust of the new TEN-T proposals since as an island on the periphery of Europe improved transport links to our main trade and tourism markets are vital. It is important to understand that TEN-T is not aspirational. Rather it involves very onerous financial commitments on individual member states and therefore the Government must exercise care in discussions on this matter.