Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing funding to Northern Ireland elements of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review.

Many of the ambitions of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review support the vision for UK transport connectivity that Lord Hendy set out in his 2021 review report.

That is why the UK Government provided financial support to Translink to undertake four Northern Ireland rail feasibility studies linked to the All-Island Strategic Rail Review.

My department continues to engage positively with the Department for Infrastructure and remains willing to explore ways in which we can collaborate and share best practice in support of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review.

However, the development and implementation of rail schemes in Northern Ireland - including how they are financed - are devolved matters and therefore responsibility for them rests with the Northern Ireland Executive and Translink.