Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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327. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff in his Department WTE’s who have day to day responsibility for developing and advancing the recommendations from the All-Island Strategic Rail Review; if he will clarify the next steps in respect of advancing the recommendations from the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39554/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the All-Island Strategic Rail Review was undertaken in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. Following two public consultations, the Review’s Final Report was published in July 2024.

The Review's Final Report sets out 32 strategic recommendations to enhance and expand the rail system in Ireland and Northern Ireland up to 2050, aligning with net carbon zero commitments in both jurisdictions. 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.

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.

My Department has the equivalent of approximately 1 to 1.5 Whole Time Employees (WTE) with the responsibility of progressing the recommendations in the Review.

This work will additionally inform my Department's engagement on the review of the current National Development Plan, which is ongoing. 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.