Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I understand the point that Deputy Smith makes about the threat of insolvency. I am not making that threat at all. The fact is that Iarnród Éireann is on the brink of insolvency. In answer to the Deputy's question about subventions, about Europe and her comment that Ireland is far behind, l will point out some very salient facts. Between 2008 and 2016 the taxpayer has made over €5 billion available to the various CIÉ companies, across both PSO and capital investment programmes. Of this, Iarnród Éireann received over €3.7 billion or almost 75% of the total Exchequer funding in that period. As taxpayers we need to be certain of the value for money of that level of expenditure.

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