202. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport to prioritise the incoming railway Order for the next phase of the Cork commuter rail project. [46871/24]

As the Deputy may be aware, the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme is noted as a key project in the National Development Plan 2021-2030 and the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy 2040. The programme comprises a number of separate but interrelated projects.

Phase 1 of the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme, ‘Enable future electrification of Cork Commuter Rail’, was included in Ireland’s National Recovery & Resilience Plan as submitted to the European Commission in 2021. All works associated with Phase 1 are expected to be completed by Quarter 3 2026 as required by the European Commission.

This will see a significant investment in Cork’s rail infrastructure, which will facilitate the longer-term electrification of the network through construction of a new ‘through’ platform at Kent Station to create an integrated suburban network, re-signalling of the network, and double-tracking from Glounthaune to Midleton. Work is underway on all three Phase 1 projects for delivery by Quarter 3 2026.

Recently, Iarnród Éireann awarded a contract to TYPSA and Roughan O’Donovan appointing them as multi-disciplinary consultants for the design of Phase 2 of the Programme. This Phase provides for eight new stations, a new fleet maintenance depot electrification of the network and upgrades to existing commuter stations.

The Department currently expects the National Transport Authority (NTA) to submit the Preliminary Business Case for Cork Area Commuter Rail for review by 2026. Subject to approval by Cabinet, this will allow CIÉ to submit a Railway Order application to An Bord Pleanála. Subject to the granting of the Railway Order, securing funding and achieving the relevant approvals, Phase 2 of the Programme will progress after Phase 1 works have been completed.