Mr. Michael Nolan:

The rationale for that model of procurement goes back to the policy of previous Governments. Various different national development plans, NDPs, from the early 2000s until 2010 included €2 billion in private sector finance for the development of the major inter-urban network. The original rationale was based on stated Government policy. It is also an alternative way of raising project finance, rather than going directly to the Exchequer. It has its place in terms of providing an alternative means of raising finance.