Vol. 576 No. 6
235 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the proposal to extend rail passenger services to Navan, County Meath; if this service will be extended to Kingscourt, County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30522/03]
The strategic rail review or SRR, which I published last April, provides a strategic policy framework for the future development of the rail passenger and rail freight sectors in Ireland. The review included an assessment of a number of rail proposals, many of which were received as part of the public consultation process.
Two rail proposals linking Navan with Dublin were considered – Navan to Drogheda which would link to the Belfast line and a direct link to Connolly Station in Dublin. Following the analysis, neither of the two proposals was considered suitable for inclusion in the recommended investment strategy of the SRR. However, the SRR recognises that circumstances can change and that in certain circumstances it may be appropriate to consider such proposals again.
In addition, the SRR recommended that new rail proposals, such as a Navan rail link, must have appropriate and complementary land use, settlement and economic strategies that would provide the economic, social and commercial rationale for the project in place before the viability of any proposal could be assessed. At present, such strategies are not in place locally to support such a rail link. The challenge now lies with the regional and local authorities to develop the business case for new rail proposals, such as the Navan rail link, by bringing forward appropriate strategies which support and complement such proposals.
As regards a passenger rail link from Navan to Kingscourt, that was not among the proposals assessed by the SRR consultants. I understand from Iarnród Éireann that the development of such a service is not among the company's current priorities.
