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Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2021

Wednesday, 3 March 2021

Questions (134)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

134. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the basis on which he derives the authority to announce two feasibility studies for the western rail corridor given the fact that this is in direct contravention of regional policy objective, RPO, 6.13, a legitimate stand-alone development objective of the Government-endorsed regional spatial and economic strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11445/21]

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Written answers

The Deputy will acknowledge that the authority of Government and Ministers is as set out in Bunreacht na hÉireann and legislation passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas, such as the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 (as amended).

In line with that Constitutional and legislative framework, the previous Government requested Iarnród Éireann to commission a financial and economic appraisal of the proposed reopening of the Western Rail Corridor Phases 2 and 3, and also decided that, upon completion of that appraisal, the Department of Transport would ensure an independent review of that appraisal.

In December 2020, the Government noted the conclusions of Iarnród Éireann’s financial and economic appraisal (the “EY Report”) and the independent review of it that had been commissioned by my Department and conducted by JASPERS, an agency of the European Investment Bank / European Commission. 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.

Government also noted my intention to launch a Strategic Rail Review of the rail network, which will be conducted in co-operation with our colleagues in the Department for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland), and will examine the potential role of rail in all-island inter-urban and inter-regional connectivity, including its potential for freight.

I am aware of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy as referred to by the Deputy, and the Regional Policy Objectives therein. I am also aware that the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy prefaces its description of those Regional Policy Objectives with an acknowledgment of the role of Government as described above in relation to the Western Rail Corridor.

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