Mr. Howard Knott:

Mr. Ó Raghallaigh has covered some of the points I noted. TEN-T funding offers potential. In the case of Foynes, as mentioned, it is hoped the rail connection will secure TEN-T funding because it meets the criteria laid down. A TEN-T funding application has been made in support of the work being done in scoping the restoration of the track. Another portion of the money will come from the port. It does not have to come from the railway company. Others will see value in its development. The same issue apples exactly to the very strong existing service mentioned between Ballina and Dublin, on which there are seven round trips of container trains a week. They cross into Dublin Port on track owned, maintained and developed by Dublin Port. The port authority has put its money into the development of rail freight services.

It is important to state the establishment of a significant rail operation from Ballina servicing the ports in Dublin and Waterford has facilitated the development of other companies in the area, simply because there is the availability of container equipment. If an exporter requires a particular container tomorrow, it could well be sitting in Ballina just a few miles away rather than having to trek all the way to Dublin. It could have a cumulative effect on development.

We mentioned the Juncker proposals, which are critical and not sufficiently understood. Although Ireland is enjoying a gentle economic recovery, if I can put it that way, other parts of Europe do not have this luxury and the Commission is so anxious that development take place in Europe it has developed a funding protocol for projects which are shovel-ready if a case can be made for them. There is no doubt, from conversations we have had in the past six weeks with people in Brussels, that projects such as those articulated this morning could well be supported. Ports, the European Union and other interests are looking to support viable projects. It comes back to what was being said about having a solid business case and solid figures. This is where the Western Development Commission study will prove extremely useful.