Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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312. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received the report he commissioned on the western rail corridor from a company (details supplied); if so, when the report will be published; when a final decision on the report will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52293/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 321 together.

As the Deputies are aware, Project Ireland 2040 committed to conducting an independent review of a possible extension to the Western Rail Corridor (WRC) and provided that, should the outcome of the review be approved by Government, the project would be prioritised during the lifetime of the National Development Plan.

In line with the commitment for a review, an external company was commissioned by Iarnród Éireann to prepare a financial/economic appraisal and business case on proposals for extending the existing WRC from Athenry to Claremorris.

That work is now complete and the business case has recently been received by my Department. It will now be reviewed in line with the requirements of the Public Spending Code, following which I will bring the findings of the Report to Government.