Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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124. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request Irish Rail to include the Limerick to Ballybrophy via Nenagh railway line on the manual level crossing upgrade project and to ringfence the required funding to automate the manual level crossings in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21968/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Infrastructure Manager Multi-Annual Contract (IMMAC) provides the funding framework for the protection and renewal of our railway infrastructure, including the Ballybrophy to Limerick rail line.

This is the third year of the current five-year IMMAC programme, as approved by Government in 2020, and over the five years of the programme in excess of €1.1billion in Exchequer funding will be made available to support its delivery. This funding will increase service reliability and punctuality, improve journey times and ensure continued safety of rail services. Usage of level crossings is reviewed on an annual basis through an on-going programme of inspections.

The Deputy may wish to note that funding for the upgrade of aged track on the route has been provided in 2022 which will see the full length of the Ballybrophy line upgraded to continuous welded rail by the end of the year, bringing journey time improvements for passengers.

The Infrastructure Manager in Iarnród Éireann drafts an annual work programme in October each year under the IMMAC. Funding allocations for 2023 will therefore not be finalised until later this year.