Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It was not on my list. It is one of the items that did not make it. I will start with the North Quays. We have the integrated transport hub, which is due to move from the current location at Plunkett Station to a location further up the quay. It will be the linchpin of the development and where the new sustainable transport bridge crossing the River Suir will land. I have been talking to the contractors and the council. They believe everything is moving as anticipated according to their timeline. I want an indication from Irish Rail as to when it believes we will see trains going in and out of the new integrated transport hub.

The second issue is that of the Barrow Bridge, which I believe was mentioned earlier at this meeting.

There was a bridge strike there maybe two years ago. How is the insurance claim progressing and are we advancing with repairs in the interim?

The third issue depends on the Barrow Bridge, namely, the Rosslare-Waterford line. It is quite some time since a passenger service ran on that line. The rail strategy moots reopening that line. Will Mr. Meade tell me where we are in terms of planning for the reopening of the Rosslare line? In a related issue, does Irish Rail envisage the Killinick loop as being a future connection? It would not only make a connection between Rosslare and Waterford, it would connect to the Dublin line that travels through Gorey, Enniscorthy and Wexford. Can we loop it across on to the south Wexford line? It would be a great transport connection, particularly in light of what is now South East Technological University, SETU, to link up its campuses.

I am sure the Deputy beside me has an interest in the Waterford-Limerick line as much as I do and I want to ask about line speed in particular along that line. What investments do we need to make? While I know we need to upgrade signalling and to look at level crossings, what level of investment is needed to get to a good quality line speed along that route? Do we have a good plan in place to try to get there? I also wish to raise increased services on that route. At present, there are only two services in each direction each day on that line and nothing at all on a Sunday. Better services to get people into Waterford or into Limerick at a reasonable time would see a huge jump in the patronage on that line.

As for the Waterford-Dublin line, I want to raise capacity issues. It has been said to me that every platform along that line can accommodate eight carriages apart from Kilkenny, which can only accommodate six carriages. Is that true and are there plans to expand that capacity in Kilkenny for when we get that cascade of carriages? I travel on that line frequently and there is a need for more capacity, particularly from Dublin to Kilkenny, where a lot of people seem to get off.

Finally the last train to Waterford out of Heuston Station leaves at 6.35 p.m., which is very early for people. As the last train to Carlow leaves at 8.30 p.m., is there any chance of getting the Carlow train to head a little bit further down the road in order to get a later service to Waterford? It would be of huge benefit to people who work in Dublin for a number of days of the week.