Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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22. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the need for later train services from Dublin to the regional cities and major towns on train lines in order to accommodate diverse working schedules and to improve the connectivity to the regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46272/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Government have recognised the importance of expanding affordable public transport options in all locations across the country and enhancing regional connectivity. The National Development Plan provides €35 billion for transport over the next decade, the largest investment in transport in the history of the state. This provides the necessary support to translate our ambitions for public transport into reality.

Rail service planning carried out by the National Transport Authority (NTA) working with Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) is fully aligned with service planning policy as set out in NTA’s Connecting Ireland programme. The NTA has engaged with Iarnród Éireann to develop a programme of service improvements that are intended to recognise recent significant and likely permanent changes in the pattern of rail travel brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. A suite of service improvements has been developed to make the most of this opportunity to diversify and develop new markets for rail travel.

The proposed revisions recognise the needs of different rail markets. For example, the NTA has proposed improvements on suburban rail corridors reflecting service planning policy to provide a coherent level of service addressing all needs across the entire week in order to reduce car dependence in these urban markets, instead of focusing mostly on the journey to work and to education. The intercity market has different characteristics. Intercity service planning policy intends to offer a better spread of arrivals into regional cities and large towns. All changes will need to be agreed with Irish Rail and where necessary funding approval will be required.

Iarnród Éireann in conjunction with the NTA are planning to implement timetable alterations from the 11th of December 2022, subject to the availability of funding. Public consultation has commenced and can be accessed here: www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/news/Proposed-timetable-changes-from-11th-December-2022

This process commences with the publication of a Draft Timetable on Irish Rail’s website and requests customers or potential customers to comment on the proposal while also requesting comments in general or on service alterations or additions which they would like to see implemented. This process provides customers with direct input into the planning and design of the rail timetable while also providing an accurate assessment of potential demand for services and associated alterations. This process has seen numerous service alterations to initial draft timetables and this feedback is directly reviewed by Iarnród Éireann Management and the NTA.

Unfortunately a limiting factor at present is the availability of train drivers. Irish Rail are planning to increase the number of driver school classes it can run in order to have drivers available to operate any new services proposed.

The NTA is currently working with Iarnród Eireann to review where best to deploy 41 new passenger railcars which have started to arrive and will continue to arrive throughout 2023 which will increase capacity in many areas. Passenger demand has changed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic across the whole rail network. Consideration will be given to amending train lengths where capacity, demand, available railcars and suitable infrastructure are appropriate, and also subject to availability of the necessary funding.