Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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243. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of developing the western rail corridor between Limerick and Galway and the amounts spent for between Limerick and Ennis, Ennis and Athenry, Athenry and Galway and on the new stations in Oranmore, County Galway and Sixmilebridge, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12290/16]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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245. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to commission a report on the re-opening of the rail line from Athenry, County Galway to Claremorris, County Mayo for freight and passenger services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12292/16]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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246. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to commission a study into the development of commuter rail services on existing used and disused rail lines serving the cities of Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12293/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 243, 245 and 246 together.

In 2006 the Government approved capital funding of €106.5m for Phase 1 of the Western Rail corridor between Ennis and Athenry.  This enabled the reopening of the then closed rail line between Ennis and Athenry and the construction of new and re-opened stations at Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan, Craughwell and Oranmore,  as per the Government approved Business Case.  Iarnrod Eireann has received capital funding of €102m to date out of a Budget of €106.5m.

Prior to the re-opening of the Ennis to Athenry line, commuter rail services were already in operation between Limerick and Ennis and also between Athenry and Galway on the Dublin to Galway intercity rail line.

The new Programme for Government includes a commitment to provide for an independent costing and review of a proposal to extend the Western Rail Corridor by linking Athenry and Claremorris for passenger and freight use.  In the coming weeks I will be considering how best to progress this commitment.  ​The Programme also commits that no measures will be taken to prevent the future reactivation of the corridor for rail use.