Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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157. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the spraying of weed-killer along the tracks of the Galway to Dublin rail line; if he will outline the amount spent by Irish Rail on weedkiller in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023; the amount, in gallons or litres, sprayed along the nation's rail lines in that period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33921/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the public transport network.

The issue of the cost and the volume of weed-killer sprayed along rail tracks is a matter for Iarnród Éireann as the Infrastructure Manager, and I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.

Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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158. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when catering services will be restored on the Galway to Dublin train service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33922/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.

The issue raised by the Deputy regarding the status of catering services on board Iarnród Éireann Galway to Dublin rail services is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann, and I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.

Additionally, I understand that many of the stations on the Intercity network have existing retail / catering facilities available for customers, and Iarnród Éireann have advised that they will work with CIÉ Property in the interim period to further enhance, where possible, station-based retail and catering options for customers while also working towards the resumption of on-board catering as soon as possible.

Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response from the company within ten working days.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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159. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress being made towards the extension/reopening of the Western Rail Corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33923/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Western Rail Corridor is being considered as part of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review which I announced in 2021 in partnership with the Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The need for Ireland to develop a more strategic framework for investment in our rail network was previously noted by JASPERS, an agency of the European Investment Bank. This Review is the first such Departmental-led Review in two decades and the first ever to be conducted on an all-island basis.

The Review will inform the development of rail on the Island of Ireland in the coming decades to 2050, in line with net zero targets in both jurisdictions. The Review is considering the potential scope for improved rail services along various existing and potential future corridors of the network, and that scope includes the potential afforded by disused and closed lines such as the Western Rail Corridor.

Work on the Review is now at an advanced stage and it is expected that a draft will be published for the purposes of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) public consultation later this month. Following the SEA process and finalisation of the report, it is expected that it will be submitted for the approval of the Minister for Transport and Government in the autumn, 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 be published in the autumn of 2023.