Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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56. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the capital funding he intends to provide this year for the upgrade of the rail line from Athenry in County Galway to Collooney in County Sligo so that work can continue on the reopening of this vital rail link; the purposes for which the funding will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4539/24]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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68. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he plans to follow up on work carried out by Iarnród Éireann on line clearance on sections of the rail line from Collooney to Athenry by providing funding in 2024 for the design work on the upgrade of the line from Athenry to Claremorris to a suitable standard to reopen it for freight and passenger travel; if he supports the statement by Iarnród Éireann (details supplied); the discussions he has in relation to TII reinstating the railway bridge in Ballyglunin, County Galway as it has committed to doing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4538/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 68 together.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Infrastructure Manager Multi Annual Contract (IMMAC) provides the funding framework for the protection and renewal of our railway network infrastructure, including maintenance works on closed and disused lines, such as the Western Rail Corridor.

A total of €250,000 has been allocated for vegetation removal along the Athenry to Collooney section of the Western Rail Corridor. This would be typical of vegetation management on disused lines as part of a care and maintenance regime and to assert possession of the route to prevent encroachment.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has advised there is full engagement with Iarnród Éireann in relation to bridges/crossings between national roads and the Rail network. Crossing of such lines and the works involved are ultimately subject to bridge agreements between the parties.

The All-Island Strategic Rail Review, which is being undertaken in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, will inform the development of the railway sector on the Island of Ireland over 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 a draft report was published for a Strategic Environmental Assessment public consultation in July. The Review recommends that reinstatement of the Western Rail Corridor from Athenry to Claremorris via Tuam be commenced by 2030. This is a significant project with the Review estimating it could cost between €400 million and €600 million, in 2021 prices.

The public consultation phase of the SEA process concluded on 29th September and submissions are now under review by officials from both jurisdictions. Following this process, it is expected that a final report will be submitted for Ministerial approval and ultimately the approval of the Government, as well as to the Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland if in place.

In light of the above processes, it would be premature to commit to the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor before the Review is finalised and approved by Government.