James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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210. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the commencement of works for the construction of a new train platform at Kent station, Cork for the provision of additional capacity in relation to the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3434/22]

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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211. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the timetable for the works in relation to the €184.7 million of European Union funding for the Mallow to Midleton and Cobh rail line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3435/22]

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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212. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a timetable for the construction of the double track from Carrigtwohill to Midleton train station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3436/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 210, 211 and 212 together.

As the Deputy is aware, Government approved the inclusion of Phase 1 of the Cork Commuter Rail Programme in Ireland's National Recovery & Resilience Plan. Inclusion in the Planmeans the projects referred to by the Deputy will be largely funded through the EU's Recovery & Resilience Facilityand also means that all works should be complete by 2026.

Funding for the projects will be administered by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and in view of NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's questions to it for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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213. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the research undertaken as part of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review into the provision of electrified high-speed rail between Cork to Dublin and Dublin to Belfast and associated costings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3437/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is aware, my Department, in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure, Northern Ireland, has commissioned an All Island Strategic Rail Review, for which Arup Consultants were appointed to undertake.

As part of the scope of the Review, Arup will consider, amongst other matters, the potential for High/Higher-Speed Rail on the wider network and of course, the Belfast-Dublin-Cork corridor. I expect the Review to conclude by Q4 this year. It is the Reviewitself that will provide the type of information the Deputy seeks.

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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214. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on increasing subvention to Irish Rail to lower the cost of inter-city fares between Cork and Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3438/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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While as Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport, nor decisions on fares. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public transport services by way of public services obligation (PSO) contracts, for allocating PSO Exchequer funding and for the regulation of PSO fares, including the rail inter-city fares mentioned in the Deputy's question.

Therefore, I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.