Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their attendance today and for submitting their statements in advance. In my short time in Dáil Éireann, I have never heard so many positive conversations take place about investment in public transport, electric buses, hydrogen buses, railways, electrification, new rail lines and investment in existing rail lines.

It is very positive to hear that. As someone who has been a keen supporter of public transport for many years, I take great comfort in that. The Minister we have in place at the moment has a great understanding of that, which is helpful too.

It is also encouraging to read the four opening statements from the witnesses to see the issues addressed by the companies, including the ultimate need to decarbonise transport. This is not only about how to decarbonise buses and trains but to provide an alternative so we can decarbonise car transport and car dependency. The way we do that is by significantly investing in public transport.

The company representatives covered electrification. I will put a direct question on that shortly. They also covered the concept of transport-oriented development, which is key. The company representatives noted several of the urban centres for development where there are railways, including Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway. There is also great potential along the existing rail corridors we have. We could have higher density development along the rail lines in existing towns and settlements. Mr. Allen commented on how his preferred option would be to invest more in the existing lines, get them up, sweat the assets and get a good service out of them.

I want to ask about the electrification plan. DART+ is an ambitious plan. It is well overdue and really needed. We have low penetration of electrification in Ireland compared with many of our European counterparts. It is good to see this ambition. In the greater Dublin area the National Transport Authority has always favoured the northern line and the two western lines. In the past it has neglected the southern line, especially beyond Greystones to Wicklow. There are growing settlements there designated in the regional spatial strategy as growth towns. Does Irish Rail see scope for this once we start to build up the delivery of electrification? What is the plan once we have a specialist contractor in and start to get the supply chain up and moving, and perfect the electrification systems? We have not done significant electrification since the Malahide and Greystones extensions in the early 2000s. Does Mr. Allen see scope to go further in the electrification proposed at the moment? What about extending as far as Wicklow town? I have always taken the view that the NTA has ignored corridor F in the greater Dublin area transport plan. It would serve a population density and support investment in an existing line that has good infrastructure in place at the moment.