Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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271. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the efforts made to progress the Navan rail line; the amount of funding allocated in each of the years 2020 to 2025, by year to progress this project, in tabular form. [31725/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. 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 was approved in early 2023, sets out a framework for transport investment across the region over a 20-year period from 2022 to 2042.

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 from Dublin to Navan and the final Strategy now includes delivery of the line between 2031 and 2036, subject to planning and funding approvals.

I am pleased to confirm that in 2024 the NTA allocated funding to Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) for the establishment of a design team to commence work on the Navan rail line project. This work involves route option selection, planning and design phases of the project.

IÉ commenced the procurement process for this pre-construction phase of the project, and issued a tender to prequalified consultants at the end of May 2024. In November 2024, multi-disciplinary consultants were appointed by IÉ for the duration of the project to work with the rail company’s in-house project team.

It is anticipated that a public consultation on the route options for the project will take place by early 2026. That process will ultimately recommend a defined route and develop a preliminary business case, which will need to be approved by Government before any planning application.

The Navan Rail Line is being delivered by IÉ on behalf of the NTA, with funding for the project being provided by my Department through the NTA.

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.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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272. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the efforts made to progress the Western Rail Corridor; the amount of funding allocated in each of the years 2020 to 2025, by year to progress this project, in tabular form. [31726/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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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’s Final Report was published on 31st July 2024. The Review 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, including the reinstatement of the Western Rail Corridor between Athenry and Claremorris.

Assisted by the European Investment Bank (EIB) Advisory Services, the Department of Transport and Department for Infrastructure, and agencies north and south, are working to progress the Report’s recommendations in the years ahead. As part of this work, a Project Prioritisation Strategy, which considers how best to optimise the sequencing and implementation of the Review recommendations, including both short-term interventions and longer-term projects, is at an advanced stage of preparation and is planned for publication later this year.

One of the Report's interventions is the reinstatement Western Rail Corridor between Athenry and Claremorris, and in this regard the Department of Transport has recently agreed to allocate Iarnród Éireann circa €300,000 this year to progress a scoping study on the reinstatement of the line.

This work will inform the Department's engagement on the review of the National Development Plan (NDP), which is currently underway. Once the NDP review is complete, it will help provide clarity on the funding available to progress projects over the medium term.

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