Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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81. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware that there are no trains from Tara mines to Dublin Port at present. (details supplied); and when the rail option will reopen to Tara Mines. [60338/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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Alexandra Road is one of the busiest roads within Dublin Port with typically thousands of truck and multiple rail movements occurring on it every day. The volume of heavy traffic on the road has led to significant wear and tear which has also impacted on the rail line.

This situation has led to Dublin Port Company (DPC) commencing essential upgrade works on Alexandra Road, which will also address the condition of the rail line. DPC has advised my Department that these works started in July and will take approximately 18 months to complete. These works will provide much-needed remedial upgrades to road and rail infrastructure, which has deteriorated in recent years, presenting operational and safety risks.

The Alexandra Road rail line will be future-proofed to accommodate higher wheel loads, with direct rail access into the Port expected to resume in 2027 via the upgraded line. The project also includes a new road layout, pedestrian and cycle path, and replacement of underground services, critically including ducting to support EirGrid’s ‘Powering Up Dublin’ project.

In advance of the works to Alexandra Road commencing, DPC, working with Irish Rail, has completed a €9 million investment in the freight yard at North Wall. This facility will manage all rail freight operations during upcoming works on Alexandra Road and create additional capacity for potential rail freight volumes, subject to market demand. This is the most significant completed rail freight investment at any Irish port over the last decade and supports DPC’s long-term commitment to sustainable transport and rail freight, as outlined in its Masterplan 2040.

This project has been communicated to all relevant stakeholders over two years ago and extensive consultations have occurred in the interim to allow users, such as Tara Mines, to make alternative arrangements for the period of the upgrade works.