Mr. Frank Dawson:

The State would get its return through carbon and congestion savings. The return in those countries that subsidise track charges is over four to one. That is computed formally in carbon savings but it has to be said that in Ireland, unlike our colleagues throughout Europe, we do not seem to pay a lot of attention to the carbon savings that accrue from using rail rather than other forms of transport. This is an area of policy that needs to be re-examined.