James Breen (Clare, Independent)

If the Minister for Transport and Iarnród Éireann were serious about developing a transport strategy, they would use existing rail lines to attract industry to key towns along our rail network. The loss of sugar beet plants in Mallow, Thurles, Carlow and Tuam could be compensated by the promotion of those towns through proper and flexible rail freight timetables to encourage industries to establish there.

The development of bio-fuels and bio-refineries near hub towns along our rail network would significantly increase rail freight transportation business. It is time the Government took on board the actions of our EU partners, who have given grants, subsidies and tax breaks to rail freight users in an effort to protect existing trade and to encourage growth in industry.

A bonus of increasing rail freight would be a reduction in the amount of goods vehicles on the road and the possible reduction in the number of road accidents and road deaths. However, if the development of a national freight transport strategy is dependent on the leadership of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, the death knell is at hand. He is the man who has single-handedly sabotaged the future of Shannon Airport and the mid-west region with his open skies ego trip and wasted millions of euro of taxpayers' money on e-voting machines.

As other speakers stated, it is crucial that a holistic and integrated review be taken of transport policy. As part of that review, the advances made by the road transport and haulage sector should be acknowledged. Equally, increased incentives should immediately be put in place.

Road and rail transport should grow in tandem. In the haulage industry, newer heavy vehicle engines are ahead of car engines in that they are Euro 4 compliant in terms of emissions. There are 16,000 licensed vehicles involved in road haulage. When one adds back-up and distribution staff, the sector is one of the top three employment areas in the country. To ensure the continuing focus on reducing harmful emissions, a scrappage scheme for older vehicles or a grant scheme for the purchase of new vehicles should be initiated.

Rail freight has understandably reduced considerably during the past 50 years, as our road network has greatly improved and the rigidity of train timetables has not suited modern industry. Instead of being proactive in this sector, the Government has simply used a surgeon's knife to remove those routes that have been unprofitable.

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