Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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36. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will allocate the funds required for a feasibility study on the Navan to Kingscourt rail line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25673/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As indicated in my reply to the Deputy's similar question yesterday, I am informed that Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) has no current plans to reopen this line, nor to undertake a feasibility study at this time. I am also informed that a potential re-opening of the line does not feature in the relevant Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies.

The issue of a potential extension of the existing Dunboyne/M3 Parkway line to Navan was considered by the National Transport Authority (NTA) during its development of the statutory Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016 to 2035. This issue remains under review and will be specifically considered again as part of the statutory review of the current Strategy. I have recently been informed that work on the review has commenced, will be subject to public consultation next year and will be fully concluded during the next 18 months.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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37. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether the reinstatement of the Dublin-Navan rail line would help reduce car emissions by taking thousands of cars off the road every day; his further views on this vital public transport project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16066/20]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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42. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the Navan rail line. [25879/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 42 together.

As the Deputy may be aware, the issue of a potential extension of the existing Dunboyne/M3 Parkway line to Navan was considered by the National Transport Authority (NTA) during its development of the statutory Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016 to 2035.

I want to say firstly that I very much welcome the development of transport strategies for the major cities. We need to ensure a holistic, multi-modal approach toward transport planning and provision and, importantly, we need to see finalised transport strategies integrated into relevant land-use plans and acting as a catalyst for the adoption by local authorities of a much more sustainable approach toward the location of housing, employment and other centres of transport demand.

The analysis conducted at the time of the development of the original Strategyconcluded that the level of travel demand between Navan, Dunshaughlin and various stations to Dublin city centre was insufficient to justify the development of a high-capacity rail link at that time.

However, the Strategyclearly states that the issue of a rail link to Navan should be kept under review, which will take into account the scale of new and planned development along the route, and that in the meantime the corridor previously identified for a Navan rail link should be protected from development.

I am glad to say that it is now time to review the Strategyand work has now commenced in that regard. The review will need to consider how the region has changed since 2016 and how we can best provide sustainable alternatives to the private car. A re-examination of the potential for a Dublin-Navan rail service will be an important part of that consideration and I look forward to its completion.