Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)

I congratulate the Deputy on her election. The fact that her husband is a keen Kerry football supporter makes me even happier that she is a Deputy.

As someone who was involved in the completion of a railway project, I am aware of the fascination people have with railways. A strong case can be made for the restoration of any railway line anywhere in the country. One of the major attractions of the English market is the number of railway enthusiasts there. Although the Lartigue monorail project in which I am involved is a small heritage railway scheme, it attracts a significant number of visitors from the United Kingdom because it is the only one of its type in the world. The railway project to which the Deputy refers appears to make a lot of sense. The Government is seeking to identify major projects to provide employment, whether directly or indirectly, and this project should be examined carefully in that context. As I am a railway enthusiast, any proposal for a railway project excites me personally.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. It is the first question of a local nature I have noticed since I began asking questions from the other side of the House. Usually such questions are disallowed, but it is welcome that they are now being taken. I am sure the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, will be delighted to answer such questions.

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