Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 June 2021
5. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if he intends including the western rail corridor from Athenry to Claremorris as a project in the forthcoming revised national development plan, NDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31517/21]
View answer71. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the rail projects in Connacht included in the current NDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31518/21]
View answerThe purpose of Question No. 5 is to ask the Minister if he intends including the western rail corridor from Athenry to Claremorris as a project in the forthcoming revised national development plan. Question No. 71 asks him to list the rail projects in Connacht in the present national development plan. I look forward to the Minister's reply to those two questions.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 71 together.
As the Deputy knows, the NDP is under review and discussions are ongoing in respect of finalising the review and agreeing a new NDP. It is important to say at the outset that my approach to this review has been based around the sort of outcomes I want to see this NDP deliver. I would like it to set the groundwork for a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland, as committed to in the programme for Government. We want to see the NDP support the investment needed to support the national planning framework, particularly in terms of supporting balanced regional development and compact growth in the five cities. This NDP needs to set us on our way to reducing emissions in line with our 2030 and 2050 net zero commitments. Our ability to deliver on those outcomes will be determined by the allocations we receive as part of the review, but my approach to the review has been framed by these considerations.
The Deputy knows I believe in the potential of rail infrastructure and services. I am of the view that this potential is not currently realised and that we can do better. That is why I broadened the terms of reference of what was a proposed high-speed study between Belfast, Dublin and Cork, so that it is now an all-island strategic rail review. This review will be conducted in co-operation with our colleagues in the Northern Ireland Executive and will examine all aspects of interurban and inter-regional rail. It will set the type of strategic backdrop to rail investment in our regions and on our mainline network that the recent Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions, JASPERS, review of the western rail corridor noted was lacking.
We need this type of strategic analysis to inform our consideration of specific projects and I very much look forward to its completion next year and implementing its recommendations in the coming years, supported by the new national development plan.
In the meantime, a number of projects already under way will continue to be supported. These include the redevelopment of Ceannt Station in Galway, a new platform at Oranmore and improved protection and renewal of the network across the region generally, thanks to the increased allocations under the infrastructure manager multi-annual contract programme.
I thank the Minister for the reply. What we are getting is renewal and maintenance of what is there but we presumed that would happen. We are getting a few platforms in Ceannt Station and a passing loop in Oranmore. It is not much for the whole of Connacht. That is the first thing that has to be said.
The Minister mentioned the concept of renewing existing infrastructure. This project scores very highly in that regard. Cost certainty is absolutely huge because the big variables are taken out of this as it is an existing railway line and we have the alignment. The project scores very highly with regard to emissions. Would it ease the Minister's problems somewhat if we were to seek funding in the west from the rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF, to co-fund this project and potentially look for CLÁR funding as most of the railway line is in the CLÁR area? If this were to be made available to reduce the net cost to the Department, would it ease the challenge for the Minister in getting this no-brainer project off the ground at last? It is great to have a whole lot of platforms in Ceannt Station but what we really need to fill those platforms are trains coming in from three directions, rather than two.
I am sure the Deputy would agree that the first priority is twin tracking from Athenry to Galway because it would give all sorts of potential for increasing transport-led development and development in Oranmore and new areas in Galway. Down the line, when the western rail corridor is reopened, it would give greater possibilities to run services but first things first. The first project will be twin tracking from Athenry to Galway to serve Ceannt Station and other stations on the route.
Wider use of the western rail corridor goes back to what we were speaking about with regard to it being a service running from Waterford all the way up to Ballina, taking in the Waterford to Limerick line and Limerick Junction. This has to be seen as a section of this. It has to be seen not just as a Connacht issue but a west of Ireland issue for freight as well as passenger services on the Atlantic rail corridor. This is how we have to see it.
I would love to take money from the CLÁR programme or any other programme that could help funding of this because, in truth, the big challenge we will have is funding. We have just heard a very valid case for funding for a significant project in Navan in County Meath. We have just heard the same from Wicklow. Every part of the country, including Limerick, is critical. Just to upgrade the road from Westport to Castlebar would cost €250 million.
I thank the Minister.
If we think of the scale of what we are spending, this is the challenge we have.
The good thing about this project is that it would cost a lot less depending on who we believe, and whether we believe the Bradley report or the original report from Ernst & Young. Between €150 million and the outer limit of €200 million is a lot less than the cost of the road from Castlebar to Westport. There is €1 billion in the rural regeneration and development fund. Would it change the attitude of the Minister if it was making a contribution to this project? It is a straight question.
I will answer the Minister's question on doubling the line. By putting in the passing loop, which was already agreed, in Oranmore, the frequency of the trains can be reduced to a quarter of an hour. This is sufficient for the moment until we build up the critical number of trains coming in. I would put it the other way around. Let us do Athenry to Claremorris first and then, when the line with the new passing loop in Oranmore carries the number of trains coming in from the various directions, we can double the line. The Minister is putting the cart before the horse.
If money were available, with 30% from sources of funding other than the Department, would the Minister be willing to let the project go ahead? As he has said, of course it is an interprovincial project and we understand the geography of it. Would the Minister be willing to let the project go ahead, stop the constant putting it for study after study and just do it? As he said, it is only renewing existing infrastructure.
It is existing infrastructure that would require a fair bit of upgrade. We would have to cross the N17 again. It is an existing line but we all know from looking at the line in close detail that it would require a fair amount of investment to bring it back to good quality status. I keep coming back to the fact that I do not think we can look at this on its own. We also have to reintroduce the rail line to Foynes at the same time, as we see the western rail corridor having access to a deep sea port, with rail freight access right down to the quayside. It is not just about the section from Athenry to Claremorris; it is part of something wider.
In truth, if we look at the line from Waterford to Limerick and Limerick Junction, we will also have to twin track from Limerick Junction to Limerick city. If we look at each individual decision on its own, we do not get the wider strategic potential of having a true western rail corridor that runs right the way up the west coast, from the south east right the way up through to the north west. It has to be part of this strategic overall vision. With regard to the strategic rail review, I know many reviews have been done and it is very frustrating but part of the problem is that people have always been looking at it in pieces and not the overall picture. The overall picture is the better way to look at it
I thank the Minister. We are over time. I allowed a little leniency because there were two questions but I am going back to strict time limits.
