Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 14 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 4

Written Answers. - Rail Study.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

91 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the identity of the consultants appointed to carry out the strategic rail study; the terms of reference; the specific routes they are to examine; the timeframe for completion of the study; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5215/02]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

At present my Department is in the process of engaging consultants to carry out a strategic rail study. In the coming days a notice will appear in the Official Journal of the European Communities requesting interested parties to submit tenders to undertake such work.

The terms of reference of the study are on the following lines: prepare a strategic framework for future rail development in Ireland over the next 20 years having regard to the spatial planning context provided by the forthcoming national spatial strategy; the extensive public transport investment programme under the NDP; relevant findings and conclusions of Iarnród Éireann report entitled The Way Forward; the desirability of rail freight services; and take account of various land use and transportation strategies being developed by local authorities and other proposals for expanding rail infrastructure and services throughout the country; and the forthcoming report of the task force established by the Minister for Marine and Natural Resources on transport and logistics in connection with ports.

More terms of reference are: quantify the broad financial requirements, capital investment and ongoing operational/maintenance, for the recommended railway development strategy, including consideration of the implications for the Exchequer in terms of capital and current funding, the scope for alternative funding mechanisms and pricing policies; and assess the costs and benefits of the recommended development strategy for the railways to include an assessment of likely usage, regional development impacts, environmental impacts and transport impacts, including safety, congestion relief and diversion from other transport modes.

The study will consider proposals from Iarnród Éireann and various interested parties here. Some of the routes to be examined by the study are as follows: a new service linking Blarney, Cork and Midleton; a link between Ennis, Shannon town and airport and Limerick; a commuter service between Athenry and Galway; a commuter service linking Colooney, Ballisodare and Ballymote with Sligo; a western rail corridor linking Sligo, Galway, Limerick and Cork; and the Athlone to Mullingar route.

There will be a wide ranging consultation process in relation to the rail study and already there have been consultations with the Public Transport Partnership Forum on the terms of reference.

It is anticipated that the study will be completed next autumn and that recommendations arising from the study will then be put to Government.