Mr. Colmán Ó Raghallaigh:

Iarnród Éireann has been subjected to a serious reduction in its funding over the past number of years, and there has also been the economic downturn, which is bottoming out now. In 2014 passenger numbers grew for the first time across the rail network, but it remains in a position in which it is not of itself capable of putting money into anything, as our colleagues here have mentioned previously. So this will have to be a strategic investment by the State and, as Deputy Dooley says, it will have to be based on a sound business case. I think it is interesting that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, speaking in the Dáil last week, made the point that any additional funds in the context of the development of a new capital plan would be prioritised for projects for which there was a clear need, which we think there is in this case; that are affordable, and we think in relative terms that the sum required for the piece of infrastructure we are talking about reconnecting, the piece of connectivity that we are offering, ticks that box; that have a sound business case, which the Deputy has talked about, and we believe that can be produced; but most importantly, that add value to the existing infrastructure. The existing infrastructure that we are talking about in this section of the presentation is about rail freight. Mayo is supplying rail freight to Dublin and to Waterford, all of which has to go through the greater Dublin area at the moment. By opening the link from Claremorris to Athenry, we are offering the rail company an alternative route. We offer them the facility to develop business to the south rather than business that is all Dublin-centric. The logistics operators IWT and DFDS are interested in developing this link to the south, as is the IEA, as the committee has heard. We add value, therefore, to the network by making available to Iarnród Éireann this missing link. We connect to the port of Galway, the port of Foynes - which is coming back on stream, as we have heard - to Cork, and to Waterford. We also allow more options for trains to Dublin, because if there is something wrong on the line from Claremorris to Athlone there is an alternative route. This encourages businesses to look to rail. Therefore, I think the Minister's requirements are being met by the case that we are making here today.