Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will posit a view, which does not need Mr. Doyle's response, that there will come a point - if we have not already reached it - where further investment in the network will cost more in the long term than going down the electrical route due to fuel and other costs. I accept Mr. Doyle's point regarding the capital plan. I am a firm supporter of it. Clearly, my constituents would be great beneficiaries of it for a number of reasons – metro north, the airport and the DART extension to Balbriggan - but that is not the sole reason for my raising the issue this morning. In fact, the primary reason is from an environmental perspective but also from the public expenditure side.

My other question relates to metro north. We heard figures mentioned in the context of the investment by previous Governments on the architectural work involving technical drawings that is done prior to a project starting.