Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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TEN-T is not particularly targeted at disadvantaged regions or regions with low levels of infrastructure; it is designed to create trans-European networks. It focuses on the missing links across Europe or on the bottlenecks in trans-European networks. The nature of Irish politics is that people think that a European funding stream can always be applied to a local project. However, this is not the case, by and large. A trans-European network means precisely that; it refers, for example, to the corridor from Athens to London. The opportunities for Ireland probably arise in two areas, those being the harbours and ports to which the Deputy referred, some of which have received funding, and railways. Cork received funding for a study but the proposal to link the railway to Shannon-Foynes, unfortunately, did not receive funding. However, they will make another request for funding early next year and I will support the request. Irish Rail submitted a request for funding for aspects related to a future DART underground project. For example, a request for funding for the proposed new station in Ashington-Ashtown and O'Reilly's Crossing was not successful for a number of reasons. It was regarded more as a local project than a trans-European project. We disagree because if and when DART underground is completed it will link Belfast to Dublin and Cork so it is more than a local railway project. Port developments and some of those railway links are being considered.