192. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport he and his Department support a four-track solution for the northern commuter line; whether he plans to make funding available in the lifetime of this Government to advance the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45937/26]

Following the publication of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review in July 2024, my Department, with the support of the European Investment Bank and in conjunction with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland and rail stakeholders across the island, oversaw the preparation of the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy. This Strategy was published in December 2025 and outlines the approach to sequencing and optimising the recommendations of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review in the coming years.

In the short-term to 2030, the Prioritisation Strategy specifies a number of 'Early Interventions' to be delivered in the coming years, including new track passing loops and platforms to boost the rail network’s resilience and capacity. This includes reinstating a passing loop at Mosney and increasing the use of a passing loop at Skerries, which will support greater service resilience on the Northern rail line, by allowing the Enterprise, cross border rail service to pass slower DART and Commuter trains. These investments are funded to be fully delivered by 2030 under Enterprise Fleet Replacement Programme.

The Prioritisation Strategy also identifies 'Major Projects' with longer lead-in and development timelines. Among these is “FourNorth”, to add track capacity on the busy Northern line north of Connolly station; electrification and line speed improvements on the Dublin-Cork and Dublin-Belfast routes, both of which are on Ireland’s TEN-T Core Network, and the reinstatement of lines including the Western Rail Corridor between Claremorris to Athenry.

It should be noted that individual programmes and projects referred to within the All-Island Strategic Rail Review and the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy will be advanced subject to funding and relevant approvals, as required under the Infrastructure Guidelines.