Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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146.To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide a breakdown of the amount of his Department’s pre-committed capital expenditure under the National Development Plan that will be dedicated to the western rail corridor in each of the years 2024 to 2030, in tabular form. [25186/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the current National Development Plan to 2030 committed to the reinstatement of the Western Rail Corridor being considered as part of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review. This Rail Review was announced by me in 2021, in partnership with the Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

The Review will inform the development of rail on the island of Ireland in the coming decades to 2050, in line with net carbon zero targets in both jurisdictions. 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 of last year.

The draft Report makes 30 recommendations for the rail system across the island out to 2050. Implementation of these recommendations would result in substantial improvements in the capacity, speed, frequency and reach of the rail system. Journey times by rail would be much reduced, and frequency would increase to at least hourly between cities and every two hours on rural and regional routes. The network would be decarbonised, with the intercity routes electrified. There would be the rehabilitation of currently disused lines, including on Western Rail Corridor between Athenry and Claremorris, as well as new lines to the North-Midlands and North-West, increasing the size of the rail network, widening accessibility and connectivity through rail.

All of this would at least double the market share of rail and enable it to be a stronger backbone of a sustainable public transport system for the people of Ireland.

The public consultation phase of the SEA process concluded on 29th September 2023 and submissions have been reviewed by officials from both jurisdictions.

It is expected that a final Review report, taking account of the comments raised in the consultation, will be submitted for Government approval in both jurisdictions shortly and that the final Review will be published immediately thereafter. While there is no funding allocated to the re-development of the Western Rail Corridor under the current NDP, this issue will be re-considered following publication of the final Review report.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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147.To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide a breakdown of the amount of his Department’s pre-committed capital expenditure under the National Development Plan that will be dedicated to the Navan rail line in each of the years 2024 to 2030, in tabular form. [25187/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the National Transport Authority, or NTA, has statutory responsibility for transport planning in the Greater Dublin Area, including County Meath.

The NTA's Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area, which I approved early last year, sets out a framework for transport investment across the region over a 20-year period from 2022 to 2042, and it provides a clear statement of transport planning policy for Counties Meath, Dublin, Louth, Kildare and Wicklow. Having a transport strategy is important to ensure we assess how the different modes can deliver for the region and also how we can sequence delivery to maximise benefits and deliver value for money.

The issue of a rail connection between Dublin and Navan was re-examined as part of the development of the Transport Strategy. That re-examination supported the development of a rail line to Navan and the final Strategy includes delivery of the line over the medium term.

I am pleased that the NTA has allocated funding to Iarnród Éireann for the establishment of a design team to commence work in 2024. This work will involve the route option selection, planning and design phases of the project. Iarnród Éireann has commenced the procurement process for this pre-construction phase of the project. It is anticipated that a route options public consultation will take place in late 2025 or early 2026.

Following this design work and public consultation process, the project will then advance through the relevant Approval Gates and planning process as required under the Infrastructure Guidelines.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter and the specific issues raised by the Deputy, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.