Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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26. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the western rail corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1719/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy may be aware, a financial and economic appraisal in relation to the potential re-opening of Phases 2 and 3 of the Western Rail Corridor, commissioned by Iarnród Éireann and conducted by EY economic consultants, was published in early 2021 and is available to view at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/1174d-review-of-western-rail-corridor-phases-2-and-3-athenry-to-claremorris/.

This report was subject to an independent review commissioned by my Department and conducted by JASPERS, an agency of the EU/EIB, and that review is also available to view through the above link.

As the Deputy may also be aware, the Strategic Rail Review, which is being undertaken in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, will inform the development of inter-urban / inter-regional rail on the Island of Ireland over the coming decades. It will establish the strategic backdrop to rail investment in our regions that the JASPERS Review noted was lacking when considering investment in Phase 2 and 3 of the Western Rail Corridor.

The Reviewis considering the potential scope for improved rail services along various existing and potential future corridors of the network, and that scope will include the potential afforded by disused and closed lines such as the Western Rail Corridor.

The Review is now at an advanced stage. Publication of the report will follow once it has received appropriate Ministerial consideration on both sides of the border.

It would be premature to commit to the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor before the Review is finalised.