Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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406. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current status and expected timeline for progressing the proposal in the All-Island Strategic Rail Review to install a curve at Limerick Junction to enable trains travelling on the Cork-Dublin line to connect with the Limerick-Waterford line; whether this project has been subject to any feasibility, design, appraisal or cost-benefit work to date; whether any specific funding has been allocated for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39923/26]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Following the publication of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review in July 2024, my Department, with the support of the European Investment Bank and in conjunction with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland and rail stakeholders across the island, oversaw the preparation of the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy. This Strategy was published in December 2025 and outlines the approach to sequencing and optimising the recommendations of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review in the coming years.

In the short-term to 2030, the Prioritisation Strategy specifies a number of 'Early Interventions' to be delivered in the coming years, including new track passing loops and platforms to boost the rail network’s resilience and capacity, including on the Limerick to Limerick Junction line a second platform at Limerick Junction station. This will support through-services between Cork and Galway via Limerick, and more through movements for Cork to Limerick. It will also reduce the journey time between Limerick and Waterford by approximately 10-minutes. These investments are funded to be fully delivered by 2030 under the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport, published be my Department in November 2025.

The Prioritisation Strategy also identifies 'Major Projects' with longer lead-in and development timelines. Among these are line speed and capacity improvements and electrification of the Limerick to Limerick Junction line. Also included is the reconfiguration of the line at Limerick Junction. The NDP Sectoral Investment Plan includes funding to commence construction of this reinstatement project.

It should be noted that individual programmes and projects referred to within the All-Island Strategic Rail Review and the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy will be advanced subject to funding and relevant approvals, as required under the Infrastructure Guidelines.