Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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55. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to decarbonise Ireland’s passenger rail fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31506/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Decarbonisation of our society and economy is obviously a key policy priority for Government and transport has a significant role to play in that regard.

An important part of that role is the expansion of sustainable mobility options in our major urban centres and across the country to enable people to make the switch toward more sustainable modes – active travel, bus and rail. This will require significant investment in our infrastructure and services and the Programme for Government - Our Shared Futurecommits toward such a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland and I look forward to seeing the change occur in the coming years.

I am also clear that within our sustainable mobility sector, or more particularly within public transport, we need to transition toward low-emission and zero-emission fleets in line with available technologies.

In rail, the key focus has been to expand electrification through the DART+ programme of investment which, once completed, will mean around 70% of passenger journeys across the rail network will be on electrified services. This will represent a significant shift from the position of today. The scope to electrify rail services in the other cities has been, or is being, considered their metropolitan area transport strategies are developed.

In terms of inter-urban rail, which is a much smaller component of total annual passenger journeys as compared to that covered by the DART+ programme, I have stated my commitment to conduct a Strategic Rail Review and it is my intention that one of the issues that Review will consider will be future decarbonisation of the inter-city / inter-regional networks. I would note that there is no settled perspective on this matter in a European context, as evidenced by the EU’s recently published Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy which references the requirement for further electrification but also notes that electrification may not be viable in all cases. It is my intention that the forthcoming Reviewwill give an Irish dimension to that European perspective.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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56. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider the reopening of closed train stations including the Avoca train station in County Wicklow to increase access to public transport and reduce car dependency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31815/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport. The operation, maintenance and renewal of the rail network and stations on the network including the former station referred to, is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance in consultation with the National Transport Authority (NTA).

The Deputy may wish to be aware of the NTA's ongoing review of the statutory Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area. The Transport Strategy is the statutory transport plan for the Greater Dublin Area, including Wicklow, and issues such as this would usefully inform its review as it looks to develop a revised twenty year framework for transport infrastructure and services across the region.

In view of the NTA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to it for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.