Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 December 2019
600. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the delay in publishing the Irish Rail report and a report by a company (details supplied) on a review of the western rail corridor; and when it will be published. [52999/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, Project Ireland 2040 committed to conducting an independent review of a possible extension to the Western Rail Corridor (WRC) and provided that, should the outcome of the review be approved by Government, the project would be prioritised during the lifetime of the National Development Plan.
In line with that commitment an external company, that referred to by the Deputy, was commissioned by Iarnród Éireann to prepare a financial/economic appraisal and business case on proposals for extending the existing WRC from Athenry to Claremorris. I am unaware of a separate Iarnród Éireann report as referred to by the Deputy.
The work of the external company is now complete and the business case has recently been received by my Department. Given the scale of the possible project, the business case will now be carefully reviewed in line with the requirements of the Public Spending Code which, as the Deputy may know, outlines the relevant appraisal processes and value-for-money requirements of any such proposals.
Following completion of the review of the business case, I will present the findings to Government.
