Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not want to trivialise this issue, which is insulting to commuters. I am very keen that the commuters of the entire country, including the commuters in Deputy MacSharry's constituency, are listened to and catered for. One of the things that has happened here, and I am sure Deputy will admit this as well, is that the rail network is a victim of its own success. The numbers pouring onto the rail network are absolutely phenomenal and the increases are likely to continue. I have to attempt to meet current and to anticipate future demands. The idea that anybody has sat on his or her hands or has been ignoring this problem is completely and utterly untrue. The NTA and Iarnród Éireann have been working on options to increase capacity, both in terms of service improvements introduced and in exploring the best way to increase fleet size.

One option was to refurbish the older fleet and bring them back into service. That option was actively explored until the costs come back. Deputy MacSharry is very genuinely and sincerely concerned about costs. These costs came back at about three times the estimate. People advocating this option as the panacea need to reflect on whether they think that spending two thirds of the cost of a new fleet on carriages with around one third of their lifespan is good use of taxpayers' money. It obviously is not.

Another option was to consider whether to buy or lease second-hand fleet. That option was similarly explored but it was ultimately not the best option, either due to things like uncertainty around availability, costs, age etc.

At the very end of the summer, a business case was presented to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport on what is the preferred option, to which Deputy MacSharry also referred, which was buying 41 additional carriages. Those who urge quick decisions and multi-billion euro projects are often the first people to criticise when things go wrong.

The Government is doing a great deal in the short, medium and long term on rail and I am pleased to say there is progress underway on each time horizon. On the fleet, I have brought a memorandum to Government on the business case for the purchase of 41 additional intercity railcars. It is expected that this new fleet will be delivered by 2021.

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