Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask about a commitment in the programme for Government to more investment in social, regional and economic infrastructure. How does this tally with the news that due to underinvestment over years, a huge proportion of the rail network will face closure unless additional investment of in excess of €460 million is made? Given the verbal commitment on the part of the Government to balanced regional development and given the occasional lipservice paid to climate change, as seen recently from the Taoiseach, will the Government make the necessary investment to develop public transport in general and the rail network in particular or is the Government instead prepared to face significant opposition from workers, unions and communities who will not accept the running down of the rail network?

See this speech in context