Mr. Barry Kenny:

There is significant private funding for the wider development. It has been indicated that it would cover the integrated transport hub, as well as including railway facilities. We have been setting out what our current operations are and what the benefits will be. As the Senator has said, there is considerable benefit to us. Ultimately, we will seek the funding source if it is the case that it is not within the footprint of the North Quays development. Clearly it is and this is probably on account of good planning heretofore. It is something we have seen in other parts of the country. Where public transport infrastructure is provided, it benefits the development materially. In turn, the development significantly helps to fund that situation. That is certainly the basis on which we are progressing as we recognise the benefit to our services from that integration.

We are looking at all aspects of it. I mentioned the track layout, platforms, freight access, signalling and rock cutting in terms any necessary stabilisation that needs to take place there, as well as the alleviation of flooding. We have done some works, thankfully. In recent years we have seen a reduction in flooding but with climate issues we have to stay ahead of it. We know that from Ballycar. That is an area where we have increased the track level in years past. Yet, only a short number of years ago, notwithstanding repeated increases in the track level, we had our worst-ever flooding. We have to stay ahead of that.