Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

There is a limited amount in the budget. We have €35 billion but when we look at all the projects and add them up, it is not a bottomless pit. We could even double that €35 million for the projects for 2040. We had a €75 billion ask when we went into the national development plan and that is just for existing projects. That is before we consider the Waterford-Limerick rail line which is underutilised. In fact, we could reopen it to Rosslare if we were investing in rail or look at the Ballybrophy line, which is also underutilised. To add another one to the mix, the small investment in the western rail corridor between Claremorris and Athenry is relatively inexpensive. Which should we invest in first - a 300 km/h rail line to Dublin, the western rail corridor or the Waterford-Limerick rail line?