Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I received a reply from the National Transport Authority in January last year. It stated that in the case of heavy rail, the National Transport Authority and Irish Rail were in discussions on a fleet strategy for the overall rail network, that the exact details of the fleet strategy were expected to be agreed to in the following months and that it was expected to commence the procurement process for the new fleet during 2018. Presumably, that has all been agreed to. What is the strategy and the amount of money for the ordering of the new fleet in 2018? I understand there is refurbished rolling stock available. It is welcome that we will have new rolling stock, even if it is refurbished, but there is no doubt that new trains need to be ordered. I presume they will not have to be paid for upfront and can be paid for on an incremental basis. What is in the budget in that regard? What fleet strategy was decided or has ordering commenced?