Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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243. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to report on the progress of the all-island strategic rail review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34942/23]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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254. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the date on which he will publish the All-Island Rail Review; and the costs of same to date. [35033/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 254 together.

The Strategic Rail Review is being undertaken in cooperation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. It will inform the development of the railway sector on the Island of Ireland over the coming decades.

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.

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 later in the year, 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 before the end of 2023.

To date, my Department has spent €1.37 million, excluding VAT, on the Review.