Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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704. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied with the level of connectivity in the inter-regional rail network; the reasons for the poor connectivity in the rail network, particularly in connections between the west and north west, for example the four hour journey involved in travelling from Galway to Cork by rail; his views on the absence of a rail network in the north west; and if he can provide a report of his Department's projected spending for 2013 to improve inter-regional connectivity in the rail network. [25149/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s rail network is primarily a radial network between Dublin and the regions.  Analysis by independent consultants AECOM in 2010, funded by my Department and commissioned by Iarnród Éireann, analysed current and possible future demand to recommend an investment strategy for the national rail network. The analysis found that there was very limited demand for movement between the regional cities and militated " against substantial investment in providing connections between the regional cities, other than in those areas where the catchments of connected cities partially overlap, and InterCity connections allow both catchments to be connected with their relative city centres on a single service".

The AECOM report also examined the potential for further expansion of the rail network in the North West, including further phases of the Western Rail Corridor from Tuam to Claremorris and Collooney (providing for a direct rail connection between Limerick, Galway and Sligo) and Derry to Letterkenny, but found that the potential demand and economic return is insufficient to merit this investment.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) points out that Cork and Galway are connected by commercial express bus services provided by Citylink with a journey time of 3 hrs 20 minutes. Bus Eireann commercial Route 51 also provides this connection albeit on a multi stop service taking 4 hours 20 minutes. These are provided at no cost to the Exchequer whereas increasing rail services and improving rail journey times would require additional resources and investment which would have to be taken from other routes.

There are no current plans to extend the rail network e.g. in the North West and the primary focus will be the delivery of cost effective public bus and rural transport services in such areas.

Iarnród Éireann’ s allocation for investment outside of the Greater Dublin area for 2013 is €105m. The vast majority of this allocation goes towards the Rail Safety Programme with a view to to ensuring that the current infrastructure is fit for purpose. In addition to safety related works Iarnród Éireann is undertaking infrastructural works to improve journey times such as removing or upgrading level-crossings, providing automated ticketing machines, improving station facilities - all of which contribute to making the railway more competitive and attractive to passengers.