Vol. 565 No. 2
314 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Transport if the feasibility study from the south Sligo rapid transit group received by his Department in 2002 was fully considered in the recently announced strategic rail review as indicated by his predecessor (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10585/03]
The strategic rail review, which I published last week, provides a strategic framework for the future development of the rail passenger and rail freight sectors in Ireland. The consultants who carried out the review considered over 150 submissions received from groups and individuals in various parts of the country during the public consultation phase. The south Sligo rail study, which was submitted to the Department in 2002, was considered by the consultants during the course of their analysis. The schemes evaluated by the consultants were selected on the basis of consideration of, among other things, existing studies and reports, reasonableness in terms of potential patronage, use of existing networks, population catchment and consistency with national policy, such as the national spatial strategy. The south Sligo scheme, as well as others listed in the report, were considered by the consultants not to be so significant as to warrant a special analysis at this stage. The consultants did recognise, however, that circumstances could change which would make a revisitation of such schemes appropriate at some time in the future.
