Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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600. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he has taken to ensure implementation of Ireland's commitment within the Fresh Start agreement to improve cross-Border rail services. [39917/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The Northern Rail Line plays an important role in linking communities North and South of the Border.  I met with Northern Ireland's Infrastructure Minister, Chris Hazzard, on Monday the 12 December under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council.  This provided an opportunity to further develop co-operation between our respective Departments on strategic transport priorities.  The rail link between Belfast and Dublin was among the issues discussed.  Iarnród Éireann and Translink have established a joint Enterprise Board chaired by the CEO's of both companies aimed at implementing improvements to the Enterprise cross border Dublin/Belfast service.

While the main emphasis of funding for the rail network in the Capital Plan is on the maintenance of the existing network to ensure it remains safe and fit for purpose, funding has been allocated for electrification of the Northern Line as far as Balbriggan.  Funding has also been allocated for the completion of the City Centre Re-signalling Programme and the construction of a new Central Traffic Control Centre which will enable the DART expansion projects to progress as well as generally improving national rail movements including the Enterprise service. As the Deputy will be aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) recently launched a public consultation process on the Rail Review report which was jointly prepared by NTA and Iarnród Éireann.  The purpose of the consultation exercise is to open up a public discussion on the role of rail in Ireland and the funding of the rail network and services.  The public consultation process will run until 18 January and the NTA will then prepare a report about the process which I intend to bring to Government.  No decisions will be made on the future of the rail network until the public consultation process has concluded and been evaluated.