The Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, has confirmed the establishment of an expert committee to look at re-opening the Western Rail Corridor.
Opposition parties have been calling on the Government to re-activate the line, which runs from Sligo to Cork.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Mr Brennan said the new committee will be chaired by the Chief Executive of Jury's Doyle hotels, Pat McCann.
Mr Brennan said he expected the committee's examination process to take a couple of months.
