Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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226. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position in relation to rail freight access at Dublin Port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43221/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Dublin Port is the largest and busiest port in the State serving the trading needs of Ireland with on average 70% of all vessels visits and over 50% of all tonnage handled by ports in Ireland.

The container rail freight service to Ballina continues to operate with five return freight services per week from Ballina to Dublin port despite challenges brought about because of the large growth in volumes on direct services with Continental Europe post Brexit. In addition to the Ballina rail freight service, all of Tara Mines exports of lead and zinc ore concentrate are delivered to Dublin Port by rail.

I believe that Dublin Port and Irish Rail are also committed to working towards facilitating rail freight to the port in the longer term.

As of today Dublin Port remains the only port in Ireland through which cargo moves by rail. Rail accounts for 0.7% of all movements of containers and trailers through Dublin Port and 0.6% of all such movements through all Irish Ports. However, I understand that a new twice weekly rail freight service between Ballina and the Port of Waterford is due to commence before the end of the month.

My Department, in consultation with the Department for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland) and other relevant stakeholders, is undertaking a strategic review of the heavy rail network on the island of Ireland. The review will consider all issues in relation to inter-urban and inter-regional rail connectivity, including the potential for high-/higher speed(s), improved connectivity to the North West and rail connectivity to our international gateways, with the latter considering the potential role of rail freight.

I believe strongly in the potential of rail freight and think it can play a bigger role in freight transport generally on this island. That is why, as part of the strategic rail review, we have included a specific focus on the topic.