A study to pinpoint routes for the expansion of the State's rail network has been announced by the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke.
The Strategic Rail Study will examine proposals for the reopening of closed routes or the development of new ones.
Top priorities are expected to be new passenger services in the south and the west, particularly on the Blarney/Cork to Midleton line, the Limerick/Ennis/Galway axis and commuter services from Collooney to Sligo.
The aim is to determine the viability of a link between Ennis, Shannon town and airport and Limerick city; a commuter service between Athenry and Galway; commuter services linking Colooney, Ballisodare, Ballymote with Sligo and development of the western rail corridor linking Sligo, Galway, Limerick and Cork.
Further development will be assessed on the Athlone to Mullingar route.
The study's remit is to develop a 20-year blueprint for the network's future, to meet increasing demand for public transport.
It will include work carried out for the Dublin Transportation Office and contribute to the strategy "Platform For Change".
It is hoped the study will provide a strategic vision for government decisions on rail development over the next two decades and will identify investment priorities. It follows a recommendation in an Iarnród Éireann report which called for the pinpointing of long-range plans.
The study aims to reflect priorities of the national and regional spatial strategies, ensuring best use is made of land for development. It would assist planners to ensure that house starts are adjacent to existing or planned rail routes. According to Ms O'Rourke "this study will focus on the detail of where rail-based public transport needs to expand and grow".
"Rail-based transport is environmentally sound and will underpin the economic development of the regions," she said.
The announcement of the review comes at the same time as a call from the Campaign for Sensible Transport for the Government to scale down its road building programme and concentrate on public transport. In a statement yesterday the campaign said it was urging the Government to rethink its road building plans.
"Due to a shortage of funds the government's excessive road building plans are grinding to a halt," said spokesman Mr Gary Fitzgerald.
