Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

588. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a train station (details supplied) in County Laois will be by-passed; the future plans for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17211/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

​I am committed to supporting a well-funded public transport system into the future and I ensured that PSO funding for bus and rail services was maintained at current levels in the last Budget, the first time this has happened since 2008. The current PSO contract between the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Irish Rail sets out the services and service levels to be provided, including services on the Limerick to Ballybrophy line, in return for the payment of a public subsidy. I am informed by my officials that the total passenger journeys on the line in 2014 was 23,692.

At the end of 2014 I brought forward a Supplementary Estimate which included additional new funding in the public transport capital investment programme of €101 million to ensure the public transport sector is better placed to address the demands of our economic recovery. A large portion of that amount was targeted at the renewal investment required in the rail network.  Irish Rail has also benefitted from increasing passenger numbers with over 1 million additional journeys in 2014. While this increase is welcome, Irish Rail must continue to improve their services and marketing to attract even more people to use its services.

The draft Strategic Framework for Investment in Land Transport recommends the development of a new rail policy, intended to have regard to social and environmental considerations addressed by rail as well as the economic and investment context established in that report.

Given the significant funding requirements, it is important that rail users and policy makers are consulted on how best to ensure that rail services continue to meet the needs of users and the contribution of rail to an efficient and effective public transport system generally.  A public consultation on the role of rail is under preparation and I expect that this consultation will commence shortly.