Denis Naughten
Question:170 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport if he will approve funding for the western rail corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27880/03]
Written Answers. - Rail Network.
The strategic rail review provides the Government with a policy framework for the future development of rail passenger and rail freight sectors in Ireland. The report's findings will have a positive role in helping to alleviate growing congestion, reverse ever-increasing car dependency, maintain economic competitiveness and prioritise balanced regional development.
The western rail corridor was one of a number of schemes that was evaluated in the course of the review. While it was noted in the report that this particular scheme complements the objectives of the national spatial strategy, it did not perform well in the cost benefit and multi criteria analyses carried out in the review and so it was not included by the consultants in the recommended investment strategy.
The review found that consideration of new railway proposals, such as the western rail corridor could only be undertaken when such proposals are supported by appropriate and complementary land use, settlement and economic strategies, which would provide the economic, social and commercial rationale for such projects.
As the western rail corridor fits in well with the aims of the national spatial strategy, I provided the relevant regional authorities in the west with consultancy advice from Booz Allen Hamilton who undertook the strategic rail review to ensure that they are fully aware of the necessary prerequisites that would need to be put in place before a rail feasibility study could be commissioned on the corridor.
In September last officials from my Department organised a seminar in Athlone, together with Booz Allen Hamilton to outline to the regional authorities in the Border, west, mid west and south west authority areas, the context in which the western rail corridor was considered within the overall strategic rail review. The seminar also dealt with the critical land use and settlement issues to assist the regional authorities in their consideration of appropriate strategies that might support the western rail corridor.
The seminar was very timely as the regional authorities are currently in the process of drawing up regional planning guidelines for their regions as part of the implementation of the national spatial strategy. The seminar provided the opportunity to discuss the western rail proposal with the regional authorities in the context of such regional planning guidelines. The seminar has been followed by direct one-to-one discussions between Booz Allen Hamilton and each of the regional authorities and the western development commission. My officials have also had a separate meeting with the commission with regard to the western rail corridor.
It is now a matter for the regional authorities to consider the potential for rail developments, such as the western rail corridor, in the drafting of their regional planning guidelines. However, I have to stress that such proposals must be supported by land use and settlement strategies, developed by the regional authorities, which underpin and support the rail proposals if they are to have any chance of success.
My Department is represented on each of the regional authorities preparing these guidelines and I have asked Iarnród Éireann to facilitate the regional authorities in their work, as they have in the case of the rail feasibility study for Cork.
Marian Harkin
Question:171 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Transport if he will commit to the capital funding of the western rail corridor during the current national development plan. [27884/03]
The strategic rail review provides the Government with a policy framework for the future development of rail passenger and rail freight sectors in Ireland. The report's findings will have a positive role in helping to alleviate growing congestion, reverse ever-increasing car dependency, maintain economic competitiveness and prioritise balanced regional development.
The western rail corridor was one of a number of schemes that was evaluated in the course of the review. While it was noted in the report that this particular scheme complements the objectives of the national spatial strategy, it did not perform well in the cost benefit and multi criteria analyses carried out in the review and so it was not included by the consultants in the recommended investment strategy.
The review found that consideration of new railway proposals, such as the western rail corridor, could only be undertaken when such proposals are supported by appropriate and complementary land use, settlement and economic strategies, which would provide the economic, social and commercial rationale for such projects.
As the western rail corridor fits in well with the aims of the national spatial strategy, I provided the relevant regional authorities in the west with consultancy advice from Booz Allen Hamilton who undertook the strategic rail review to ensure that they are fully aware of the necessary prerequisites that would need to be put in place before a rail feasibility study could be commissioned on the corridor.
In September last officials from my Department organised a seminar in Athlone, together with Booz Allen Hamilton, to outline, to the regional authorities in the Border, west, mid west and south west authority areas, the context in which the western rail corridor was considered within the overall strategic rail review. The seminar also dealt with the critical land use and settlement issues to assist the regional authorities in their consideration of appropriate strategies that might support the western rail corridor.
The seminar was very timely as the regional authorities are currently in the process of drawing up regional planning guidelines for their regions as part of the implementation of the national spatial strategy. The seminar provided the opportunity to discuss the western rail proposal with the regional authorities in the context of such regional planning guidelines. The seminar has been followed by direct one-to-one discussions between Booz Allen Hamilton and each of the regional authorities and the western development commission. My officials have also had a separate meeting with the commission with regard to the western rail corridor.
It is now a matter for the regional authorities to consider the potential for rail developments, such as the western rail corridor, in the drafting of their regional planning guidelines. However, I have to stress that such proposals must be supported by land use and settlement strategies, developed by the regional authorities, which underpin and support the rail proposals if they are to have any chance of success.
My Department is represented on each of the regional authorities preparing these guidelines and I have asked Iarnród Éireann to facilitate the regional authorities in their work as they have in the case of the rail feasibility study for Cork.
Question No. 172 answered with Question No. 47.
Question No. 173 answered with Question No. 26.
Question No. 174 withdrawn.
Question No. 175 answered with Question No. 7.