Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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294. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a transport objective in the Climate Action Plan (details supplied) to support delivery of the all-island strategic rail review recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16808/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the All-Island Strategic Rail Review was undertaken by the Department of Transport in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The Review informs the development of rail on the Island of Ireland in the coming decades to 2050, in line with decarbonisation targets in both jurisdictions.

The Review’s Final Report was published in July 2024. The Report sets out 32 strategic recommendations to enhance and expand the rail system in Ireland and Northern Ireland up to 2050. The recommendations seek to transform the quality of the rail system to the benefit of passengers and wider society on the island, through additional track capacity, electrification, increased speeds, higher service frequencies and new routes.

The Programme for Government commits to working collaboratively to act on the recommendations of the Rail Review. Assisted by the European Investment Bank Advisory Services (EIB), my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, and agencies north and south, are working to progress the Rail Review's recommendations for the years ahead, to help optimise the sequencing and implementation of the proposed investments.

In relation to action TR/24/14 of the Climate Action Plan 2024, this work commenced in April 2024 and the Prioritisation Strategy is at an advanced stage of completion and will likely be published later this year.

This work will also inform my Department's engagement on the review of the current National Development Plan, which is planned to take place this year.

It should also be noted that individual programmes and projects referred to within the Rail Review will be advanced subject to funding and relevant approvals, as required under the Infrastructure Guidelines.