Ms Mary Considine:

I will address the issue of the Cork area. I am sure the Deputy is aware of the significant work that is under way in the Cork area commuter belt. There is a tripling of the commuter capacity to a ten-minute frequency on all the commuter lines. The first package of work there is a new platform has been completed. The Midleton to Glounthaune twin-tracking is under way; it is hoped that this will be completed in August of next year. There is re-signalling that will be complete by the end of next year. We will then move on to packages 4, 5 and 6, which include eight new stations, a depot and electrification. There will be planning for that in summer 2026. Subject to funding, the infrastructure could be delivered by 2030, with a fleet in place by 2032. The first two of those stations, Dunkettle and Blackpool, are already in the forward-planning stage in the event that funding becomes available.

I absolutely hear what the Deputy is saying about how we extend beyond that. We are coming from a place where there was significant underfunding of rail infrastructure in this country for many decades. We are playing catch-up. It is about prioritising those projects that will probably deliver the highest capacity enhancement and value for money. If we can deal with putting more capacity on those key intercity routes and key regional lines, we can then build from there. The Deputy is representing what political Oireachtas Members right across the country are saying, which is that they want more public transport in their areas. We want to deliver that but it is about doing things on a phased basis where we can deliver the biggest bang for our buck and then build out from there.