Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy may be aware, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to rail. The rail freight market in Ireland is open, and currently a commercial arm of Iarnród Éireann is active in the sector.

In line with Action 6 of the Road Haulage Strategy, the Department of Transport is examining the potential for freight consolidation centres with the co-operation of the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). Work is ongoing to identify a number of potential high-level demonstrator/pilot projects that could be implemented within a 2–3 year period. Lessons from the pilot projects could inform the development of an overall policy on consolidation centres in the medium term, including how rail could be integrated with the development of such centres.

Opportunities for the growth of rail freight have also been one of the areas under examination as part of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review. This Review will help inform the development of the railway sector on the island of Ireland over the coming decades. The Review has explored opportunities for increasing rail freight’s market share to levels comparable with other Western European countries.

Work on the Review is at an advanced stage. A draft of the All-Ireland Strategic Rail Review was published in July 2023 for the purposes of Strategic Environmental Assessment public consultation. The Strategic Environmental Assessment public consultation phase concluded on 29 September 2023 and received circa 470 submissions. The Department and the project team in Arup are currently reviewing these submissions in cooperation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. It is expected that this review process will conclude in Q4 2023.

It should be noted that this All-Ireland Strategic Rail Review is currently at draft stage and the final Review will not be determined until this review of submissions is complete. Once finalised, it is intended that the final All-Island Strategic Rail Review is published following Government approval in both jurisdictions. It is anticipated that the final report will be put to government in 2024, as well as the Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland if in place. It is expected, therefore, that the final Review will be published next year.