Rail Network

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2026

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Thursday, 26 February 2026

Questions (282, 283, 284)

Barry Ward

Question:

282. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the proposed rail link between Donegal and Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16139/26]

Barry Ward

Question:

283. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding any research carried out into the merits of creating a rail link between Dublin and Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16140/26]

Barry Ward

Question:

284. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding any costings that have been done into creating a rail link between Dublin and Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16141/26]

Written answers

Minister for Transport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 282, 283 and 284 together.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Department of Transport, together with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, published the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy in December 2025. This Strategy outlines how to best sequence and optimise the recommendations of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, which was published in July 2024.

The Rail Strategy specifies short-term rail infrastructure investments, referred to as 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, which are funded to be fully delivered by 2030 under the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport, published by the Department of Transport in November last year.

The Rail Strategy also identifies Major Projects, including capacity/frequency enhancements and electrification of intercity rail lines, to be progressed.

These Major Projects include “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; and reinstatement of lines including the Western Rail Corridor between Claremorris to Athenry as well as a line between Portadown to Derry which includes a spur to Letterkenny in County Donegal - which provides a connection onwards to Dublin.

It should be noted that 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.

Question No. 283 answered with Question No. 282.

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