I welcome the Minister of State to Seanad Éireann. I thank him for being here for this important Commencement matter. I seek an update on the delivery of phase 1 of the western rail corridor from Claremorris to Athenry. As we both know, this has the potential to reignite connectivity across the western seaboard in a low-carbon fashion, connecting students with universities and colleges in both counties and connecting people with work, tourism, medical appointments and otherwise. It is a track that has lain idle for many years. If we are to move to a sustainable mode of transport, reopening railway lines where the State has ownership is a no-brainer. I thank the Minister of State for his work to lead and drive this forward, supported by Oireachtas colleagues across the west. It is important that we demonstrate progress, expedite the project and move it forward as quickly as possible to keep momentum going and inspire other areas. I hope with the support and leadership of the Minister of State, we will hear some positive updates today.

In Mayo we have Pro Rail in Kiltimagh where Eamonn Maloney has received planning permission and is doing brilliant work with his expertise in the rail industry. We have a very active support group, West On Track, which has been an ardent supporter of the reopening of the line. There is a commitment in the national development plan to the delivery of the western rail corridor, which I welcome and support. I encourage and ask the Minister of State to use every possible bit of influence he has to help expedite and drive it on to make sure this project can be realised as soon as possible to deliver for the people of the west.

I thank Senator Duffy for affording me the opportunity to discuss the progress being made in relation to the reinstatement of the western rail corridor from Athenry to Claremorris or vice versa, whichever way you are sitting.

Improving public transport services and infrastructure is central to improving citizens’ quality of life, addressing our climate action challenge and enhancing rural and regional connectivity. This Government is committed to a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland, as reflected by the investment we are making in the public transport system each year.

In July 2024, the Department published the all-island strategic rail review initiated by the former Minister for transport, Eamon Ryan, which I want to recognise. The review lays out a strategic vision for the future of rail on the island of Ireland and envisions the electrification of intercity lines, capacity enhancements to enable higher speeds and the delivery of new and reinstated lines to broaden access to the rail network.

Building on the recommendations of the review, the Department published the rail project prioritisation strategy in December last year, which sets out how to best sequence the recommendations of the rail review. The strategy recommended the delivery of a series of early interventions including new passing loops and platforms to boost rail network capacity, including on the Dublin to Galway line with second platforms at Clara and Woodlawn stations. Among these early interventions, Mayo rail users will benefit from a new passing loop west of Claremorris, while Sligo will see the recommissioning of platform 2 at Sligo station and a passing loop between Sligo and Boyle. These interventions will help to enhance frequency for services operating on these rail lines and increase the resilience of the rail network. These interventions are fully funded for delivery by 2030 through a €100 million allocation under the national development plan agreed by the Government last July.

The strategy also identifies major projects with longer lead-in and development times targeted for delivery between 2030 and 2040. Major projects include intercity electrification and significant capacity upgrades on the rail network. Among these major projects, I am pleased to report that the first to enter construction in the coming years will be the reinstatement of the rail line between Athenry and Claremorris. Funding has been provided in the national development plan for construction to commence in 2028 and pre-construction activities are well under way. Early work is ongoing in the form of vegetation clearance and detailed structural surveys along the alignment of key structures such as bridges and embankments, including the reinstatement of the bridge at Ballyglunin. Iarnród Éireann has also appointed a multidisciplinary consultant to assist with the preparation of the project appraisal documents required under the infrastructure guidelines. Taken alongside other projects in the region, including the refurbishment of Galway Ceannt Station and the provision of a passing loop and second platform at Oranmore, the reinstatement of this line will greatly increase rail connectivity in the west of Ireland, bringing sustainability benefits for both passengers and freight.

The Senator mentioned students. The existing line, phase 1 had passenger numbers of about 132,000 when it opened. Last year, the number of passengers on that line was 750,000. That demonstrates that if you invest in the infrastructure, it will be used.

Our biggest challenge at the moment is providing additional carriageways, so that we can cater for the increased demand that is there. It is also part of the strategy that we try to improve the freight we are carrying by rail, which at the moment is 1% of our freight. With this additional investment in rail, we will see that happening as well.

I thank the Minister of State for the update. Is he able to provide additional clarification on some of the technical design or is it too premature to talk about that? I have raised things previously about the three different rail crossings at Ballindine, for example. A point that I have made previously, and I want to reiterate here, is that investment in public transport in one mode should not negatively impact road users. Underpasses or overpasses or realignment in certain areas to make sure that we are not negatively impacting other transport users would be most welcome. It should be a design that is smartly done and future-proofed in terms of the investment while we have this window of opportunity to deliver this key infrastructure. As the Minister of State said, there have been previous projections on different rail lines that were not so optimistic. The figures that the Minister of State outlined, whereby year 1 was 132,000 and on the phase 1 in the-----

That was connecting Galway to Limerick.

The year 1 projection was 132,000 and now there are 750,000 passengers on it. The figures are phenomenal. We need to measure success on this next stage and use those numbers to compare and justify any future investment in rail reopening. I have had many people contact me in Charlestown, Kiltimagh and Swinford. They are enthusiastic for the reigniting of the railways in their towns in east Mayo. I would love to see that too. The first phase can help to inspire that if it can be done on time, expedited within budget and keep momentum going for the west.

The Senator mentioned the co-ordination between crossings on our major routes. We will have a crossing on the N17 twice, I think. I convened a meeting earlier this year of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, Galway County Council, Mayo County Council, the National Transport Authority, NTA, and Irish Rail, so that we will end up doing a co-ordinated approach to this and that any of the blockages that are there or any of the issues that arise will be dealt with in the pre-planning stage. That is ongoing at the moment. I am confident that we are planning ahead rather than ignoring things and that the stakeholders are working together to make sure we will have - when we are finished - a rail line that is operable and also that the roads are operable as well.

The recommendation to open the line between Claremorris and Athenry will be the first major infrastructural project to be delivered under the strategy. That is important. It underscores the importance of the line for enhancing regional connectivity. When opened, it will link Ballina, Westport, Castlebar, Claremorris and Tuam down to Athenry, Ennis and Limerick, and into Foynes, Galway, Cork and Waterford ports. That will relieve the congestion for freight, which is apparent at the moment on the line going directly up to Dublin. It is important that we continue to develop that. The opening of the line from Limerick to Foynes Port gives us an extra outlet for importing, exporting and using freight as our means of transport.

In relation to the whole concept of transport within Europe and within the Presidency, and looking at what we will be doing in terms of the Connecting Europe Facility for the next five years, we have included ports as a very important part of that infrastructure funding, as well as the hinterlands to ports. Ports need to have direct access to rail or a road to get their goods and services out. That is very positive news for the future development and sustainability of our rail network.