Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

280. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a feasibility study has been implemented in accordance to the capital plan to examine options for expanding freight on the railways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2529/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is reviewing how it intervenes in the various freight modes of road, rail, maritime and air, to identify how we can best support all involved in the logistics chain, including producers, retailers, importers, exporters and transport providers. The proportion of freight in Ireland moved by rail is low at present, at a little over 1% of total domestic freight tonnage. However, there has been some growth in recent years with a 6% increase of rail freight tonne-kms between 2012 and 2014. Irish Rail has estimated that rail’s share of the freight market could grow organically to 5%, while with significant investment a target of 10% of all freight could be reached.

I understand that rail freight revenue increased in 2016, with total tonne kilometres increasing from 96.4 million to 101.4 million.  Iarnród Éireann continues to progress work building on recent trials in longer freight trains in 2016 which aims to strengthen the commercial competitiveness of rail freight. I understand that Iarnród Éireann has also engaged with a number of parties regarding substantial rail freight opportunities within the Bio Mass market focussing on the commercial, environmental and wider economic value that rail freight offers within these markets.

The key priorities for investment in the rail network are largely framed by the recommendations of my Department’s Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport which was published in 2015. This informed the Government’s Capital Plan setting out the need to protect investments made to date and to maintain safety standards in the rail network. Prioritisation of this category of investment is also a key finding of a recent Public Investment Management Assessment of Ireland conducted by the International Monetary Fund.  My officials continue to engage with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to ensure that these recommendations underpin the ten year capital investment plan which I understand will be published shortly.  Finally in context of national and EU objectives to shift to lower-emission modes of transport, growth in the role of rail freight is desirable and my Department will continue to examine how such growth may be promoted.