Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I suppose the green way of life is how he has lived all of his life but, ideologically, many people did not buy into the greening of Ireland until recently. Far more people will not make the modal shift until it makes sense for their pocket. I get what he is saying about the PSO but, unfortunately, people will not make the modal shift to rail if a journey costs €182 for a family. I can raise the issue with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, but I hope the Cabinet will look at it holistically because it is simple. If there was a maximum price limit on rail travel such that you could take a family of five up to Dublin and back for €30, suddenly it would be more competitive and more efficient than going by car and it would make far more sense for the Department to acquire additional carriages and have longer trains that get to Dublin more quickly, as well as for all the other good reasons.

In conclusion, I mentioned the concern that many of these projects to which we look forward could be delayed. Can the Minister give any hope of indication in respect of the line of stops from Limerick city to various locations in south Clare and out to Shannon airport? When or how might that be progressed?