Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

The Minister began his reply by stating that Iarnód Éireann continues to grow the rail freight business, which is patently untrue. The figures over the past few years indicate a 28% decline in rail freight in 2005, with a 47% decline last year. The business has virtually disappeared, with approximately 0.5% of freight now carried by rail. The Minister should stop codding himself and us. Nothing has happened to support rail freight or encourage its greater usage in the past few years. The opposite has been the case, with a dramatic decline becoming evident.

I asked what Government policy on rail freight is and if the Minister has any proposals for incentivising rail freight. Looking at the rest of Europe, Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland have incentive schemes to encourage the use of rail freight.

The Minister is operating on the basis that Iarnród Éireann has a very limited budget, with its emphasis rightly being on passenger services. It does not have the resources to try to expand the rail freight business. This does not stack up. I listed the countries which have incentive schemes but does the Minister have any proposals for an incentive scheme to encourage a switch from road to rail?

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