Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I make two points in response to Deputy Stanley. First, there has been an increase overall in the number of passengers who avail of train services on the rail network. There was an increase in funding of €101 million or 3% last year over the previous year. This is a reflection of the changes made by Irish Rail and also the economic recovery that is underway.

On Deputy Stanley's particular point on that line, I emphasise that I have the funding in place to maintain the network as it stands at present for the foreseeable future but we need to have a debate and broader understanding in the country regarding the amount of funding that goes into sustaining the heavy rail network and its consequences for the decisions that we need to make for all of the land transport needs in the country for the years to come.

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