Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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63. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider investing money in the Dublin to Rosslare harbour rail line in view of the fact that over €700 million has been spent on two upgrades to the M11 from 2012 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6105/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The role of heavy rail in Ireland's Transport sector is currently under review. Last November, the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Iarnród Éireann launched a public consultation process on the Rail Review Report. The public consultation concluded on 18th January and the NTA is preparing a report about the process which I intend to bring to Government. No decisions on any changes to the rail network will be made until the public consultation process has been evaluated.​

The main emphasis of funding for the rail network under the Government's current Capital Plan has been on the maintenance of the existing network to ensure it remains safe and fit for purpose. Present funding allocations should see steady-state levels of maintenance achieved by 2020. The Government is embarking on a Mid-Term Review of the Capital Plan, which will take stock of progress and provide the Government with an opportunity to consider the scope for increased levels of investment, including in the transport sector, taking economic growth and fiscal progress into account.

As the Deputy has pointed out, considerable capital funding has been made available to provide upgrades to the M11, providing safer and more efficient travel for both public transport passengers and those travelling by private car on this route.