Mr. Frank Allen:

Iarnród Éireann is spending substantial money, including on a major resignalling in the greater Dublin area, which is an ongoing project. Phase one is costing €127 million. I do not wish to give the impression that no money is being spent on infrastructure maintenance or that nothing is being done about it. Very substantial money is being spent and will continue to be spent.

On the Deputy's subsequent questions of whether Iarnród Éireann has done anything more than raise our voices, in fact a great deal has been done. I met the Minister before the budget. The management of Iarnród Éireann meets the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport regularly about these things. The Deputy is correct about the issues of crowding on trains, particularly during the morning peak. A procurement process has begun to bring rolling stock which was taken out of service a few years ago - it was then surplus to requirements - back into service. In anticipation of funding coming from the Department, the procurement process to get the stock fully refurbished and up to speed has begun. Perhaps I am being unduly cautious, and I know this from having been the chief executive of RPA for ten years, but until the letter arrives in December outlining the funding available from the Department, one can never be sure how much is going to be available for the subsequent year. That is the reality.