Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

We need to put in place a railway safety programme before we can improve rail services. There has been a history of under-investment in this country's railway system over the past 60 years. The railway safety programme that is necessary to facilitate improved rail services costs hundreds of millions of euro, although it is a good investment. The Luas system has been brought on stream successfully. The Government has further ideas for the integration of the transport system. I have indicated to the Minister for Transport that I am prepared to examine the provision of a ten-year capital envelope for transport to allow the Government to plan the phased development of the network. One third of the Government's enhanced capital programme is devoted to the transport sector. Members may have concerns about so much of it being spent on roads rather than rail——

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