Written Answers. - Rail Network.
Eamon Gilmore
Question:
29
Mr. Gilmore
asked the
Minister for Transport
if the Government is considering proposals to extend the DART line to Dublin Airport which would involve closing the direct DART line between Howth and the city centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27825/03]
Irish Rail submitted to my Department yesterday proposals for an integrated commuter rail plan for the greater Dublin area. These proposals include a spur off the existing DART system to Dublin Airport and altering existing DART services from Howth to become possibly a feeder service to Howth Junction. The proposals will now be considered in my Department.
Michael Ring
Question:
30
Mr. Ring
asked the
Minister for Transport
the plans he has to progress the western rail corridor in view of the strategic rail review; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27655/03]
John Perry
Question:
70
Mr. Perry
asked the
Minister for Transport
if he will approve funding for the western rail corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27695/03]
Trevor Sargent
Question:
79
Mr. Sargent
asked the
Minister for Transport
the nature of the consultancy advice that he has made available to the four regional authorities which have a primary interest in the western rail corridor; the nature of the discussions his Department had with the Western Development Commission with regard to the proposal; and the person he views should carry out the detailed evaluation of the western rail corridor including complimentary land use and settlement policies to ensure that the scheme satisfies rail viability requirements.
[27810/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 70 and 79 together.
The strategic rail review provides the Government with a policy framework for the future development of rail passenger and rail freight sectors in Ireland. The report's findings will have a positive role in helping to alleviate growing congestion, reverse ever-increasing car dependency, maintain economic competitiveness and prioritise balanced regional development.
The western rail corridor was one of a number of schemes that was evaluated in the course of the review. While it was noted in the report that this particular scheme complements the objectives of the national spatial strategy, it did not perform well in the cost benefit and multi criteria analyses carried out in the review and so it was not included by the consultants in the recommended investment strategy.
The review found that consideration of new railway proposals, such as the western rail corridor, could only be undertaken when such proposals are supported by appropriate and complementary land use, settlement and economic strategies, which would provide the economic, social and commercial rationale for such projects. At present such strategies are not in place along the rail corridor. It is important to recall that rail lines do not exist in a vacuum; they have to serve a transport purpose and it is necessary to be very clear as to the purpose when discussions take place in relation to a western rail corridor.
As the western rail corridor fits in well with the aims of the national spatial strategy, I provided the relevant regional authorities in the west with consultancy advice from Booz Allen Hamilton who undertook the strategic rail review to ensure that they are fully aware of the necessary prerequisites that would need to be put in place before a rail feasibility study could be commissioned on the corridor.
In September last officials from my Department organised a seminar in Athlone, together with Booz Allen Hamilton, to outline, to the regional authorities in the Border, West, Mid-West and South-West Regional Authority areas, the context in which the western rail corridor was considered within the overall strategic rail review. The seminar also dealt with the critical land use and settlement issues in order to assist the regional authorities in their consideration of appropriate strategies that might support the western rail corridor.
The seminar was very timely as the regional authorities are currently in the process of drawing up regional planning guidelines for their regions as part of the implementation of the national spatial strategy. The seminar provided the opportunity to discuss the Western Rail proposal with the regional authorities in the context of such regional planning guidelines. The seminar has been followed by direct one-to-one discussions between Booz Allen Hamilton and each of the regional authorities and the Western Development Commission. My officials have also had a separate meeting with the commission with regard to the western rail corridor.
It is now a matter for the regional authorities to consider the potential for rail developments, such as the western rail corridor, in the drafting of their regional planning guidelines. However, I have to stress that such proposals must be supported by land use and settlement strategies, developed by the regional authorities, which underpin and support the rail proposals if they are to have any chance of success. My Department is represented on each of the regional authorities preparing these guidelines and I have asked Irish Rail to facilitate the regional authorities in their work, as they have in the case of the rail feasibility study for Cork.
