Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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129. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he and his Department will encourage the modernisation of rail transport infrastructure, with particular reference to ensuring long-term investment which can be relied upon to meet the rail transport needs of the public well into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20928/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The All-Island Strategic Rail Review is currently being undertaken in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The results of the Review will inform the development of the railway sector on the Island of Ireland over the coming decades to 2050 in line with our net-zero commitments, establishing a long-term framework for investment in the rail system.

The Review is considering the future of the rail network with regard to the following ambitions: improving sustainable connectivity between the major cities (including the potential for higher/high-speed rail), enhancing regional accessibility, supporting balanced regional development, and rail connectivity to our international gateways. This also includes the role of rail freight.

The Review is also considering the scope for improved rail services and infrastructure along the various existing, or potential future, corridors of the network including disused and closed lines.

Work on the Review is now at an advanced stage. However, before the Review can be formally approved it will require consideration under relevant environmental regulations, in particular the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) regulations. If deemed applicable, then a draft of the Review will need to be published for public consultation under the relevant environmental regulations before it can be formally finalised and approved. It is anticipated that any such consultation for the purposes of environmental assessment would take place in the coming months.

Following the completion of any environmental regulatory requirements and finalisation of the report, the Review will be submitted for my formal approval and ultimately to Government, as well as to the Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. Should there continue to be an absence of Ministers in the NI Executive, approval will be considered taking into account the decision-making framework set out in the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2022 or relevant legislation in place at the time.

It is expected that the final Review will therefore be published in the second half of 2023.