Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

Rail freight is an issue that has raised its head in recent years and we are considering it in the context of the sustainable travel and transport action plan. To be honest with the Deputy, I had a number of discussions with Iarnród Éireann on the matter. It made efforts some years ago to increase the level of rail freight but these efforts were not successful. It is not a convenient way of carrying much of the freight in Ireland. However, with the price of petrol and diesel reaching $120 per barrel, the position might change.

Freight transport by rail is not quite as simple as it is on the Continent, where one can send freight by rail over very long distances and through various countries. The problem in Ireland is that it is not sufficiently convenient or economical to transport freight by rail, with the exception of freight that comes in vast quantities. I hope this will change and if I can do anything to promote rail freight under the sustainable travel and transport plan, I will be delighted to do so.

The outer orbital route or Leinster orbital route is under consideration but is not included in Transport 21. No funding has been arranged for it. It will obviously form part of the review of Transport 21 in 2010 and 2011. The national tracking system is worthwhile. The NRA is doing some work on it in respect of real-time information.

Deputy O'Dowd referred to roadworks and road widening at night. I accept that nobody wants that in built-up residential areas but it should be the norm elsewhere. I have said before in the House that I do not approve of restrictions to planning permissions to the effect that people can only work for six or seven hours in the middle of the day. We must get real about such matters.

See this speech in context