Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 January 2021
92. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Transport if he is proceeding with an application to the EU Recovery and Resilience fund for a project (details supplied); his plans to progress the project in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3625/21]
View answerThe Deputy is likely aware that Ireland is required to prepare a National Recovery and Resilience Plan for submission to the European Commission and I can assure him that I have requested my Department identify suitable projects for possible inclusion. The Deputy should be aware that funding under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility is subject to strict timelines around the conclusion of contractual commitments and completion of physical works which will inform project selection.
In relation to the Western Rail Corridor, the Deputy is aware that two documents have recently been published on my Department’s website and are available to view through the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/1174d-review-of-western-rail-corridor-phases-2-and-3-athenry-to-claremorris.
The first report is a financial and economic appraisal (sometimes referred to as a preliminary appraisal) of the proposal which was commissioned by Iarnród Éireann, in line with a decision of the previous Government. Following a competitive procurement process, Iarnród Éireann selected EY economic consultants to undertake the work and Iarnród Éireann submitted a final report to my Department in July 2020.
Secondly I have also published an independent review of the proposal which was commissioned by my Department. This review was conducted by JASPERS, an agency of the European Union / European Investment Bank, which provides advisory services to Member States (and other public authorities in the EU) and has extensive experience in relation to transport infrastructure proposals in European regions. This independent review noted a number of shortcomings in relation to the proposed re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor Phases 2 and 3 as presented, in particular around issues such as the need to demonstrate the strategic role of the proposal and how it sat within the broader proposed development of the network.
In light of the analyses conducted thus far, and in particular with regard to the findings of the independent review conducted by JASPERS as commissioned by my Department, I have requested my Department to prepare terms of reference for a Strategic Rail Review. This Review will consider all relevant issues in relation to inter-urban rail, inter/intra-regional rail and rail connectivity to our international gateways, with the latter considering the role of rail freight. Interestingly this Strategic Review will be conducted on an-island basis in co-operation with my Northern Ireland counterpart, Minister Nichola Mallon, MLA, and officials from both our Departments are now developing terms of reference for the Review.
I understand this may be the first such Review to be conducted on an all-island basis and this will, I believe, allow for a fuller consideration of the potential role of rail and the network required to support that potential than perhaps has been allowed before.
I am hopeful that the terms of reference will be agreed and the procurement process launched by the end of Q1. The ultimate duration of the Review will be determined by the work programmes submitted in response to that process; this will be one of the most significant reviews of the rail network on the island in many years and will provide a framework to develop a much-improved rail network in the years ahead.
