Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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36. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if infrastructural improvements on the rail and bus networks in County Clare will be considered by his Department. [35523/20]

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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69. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if rail and bus infrastructure improvements are planned to bolster public transport in County Clare. [35522/20]

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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159. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has engaged with Irish Rail on the feasibility of opening a rail line between Sixmilebridge, County Clare, and Shannon Airport. [36124/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 69 and 159 together.

This Government is committed toward increasing the share of persons using sustainable modes of transport – be that on foot, on bicycle or on public transport – and I am determined that we deliver a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland as committed to in the Programme for Government.

There are a number of initiatives underway examining the potential for improved sustainable mobility in county Clare.

Firstly, the Deputy will be aware of the draft Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (LSMATS) which has been developed by the National Transport Authority, in collaboration with Limerick City and County Council, Clare County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). The draft Strategyhas a number of proposals in relation to improving sustainable mobility in the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area, which of course includes Shannon and surrounding areas in county Clare. Consultation on the draft Strategy recently concluded and submissions received will now be considered by the NTA.

Secondly, there is the NTA’s ‘Connecting Ireland’ initiative which aims to provide better public transport connections between villages and towns by linking them with an enhanced regional network connecting cities and regional centres nationwide. The NTA is commencing a two-phase consultation, beginning with local authority officials and other key stakeholders on the main concepts of Connecting Ireland, which will be followed by a wider public consultation on the proposals in Q2 2021.

Finally, as part of Government’s decision this week of a further support package for the aviation sector there is a specific commitment for a feasibility study to be undertaken into the potential for a rail link to Shannon Airport from the existing rail line in County Clare.

As the Deputy can see from the above, Government is actively supporting the development of improved sustainable mobility options in County Clare and I look forward to working with stakeholders in that regard.