Malcolm Byrne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach referred earlier to page 127 of the programme for Government and the Government's planned investment in railways, but the one railway line he omitted in his long list was the Rosslare line. I have corresponded in my previous life with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport on investment in the Rosslare rail line, particularly as an alternative to the M11. I am aware that the Minister rarely attends these sessions, but perhaps the Taoiseach might ask him what plans are in place to invest in the Rosslare rail line. The Minister in his email correspondence to me has said this is primarily the responsibility of Iarnród Éireann and the National Transport Authority. When I raised the point with him I was not asking him to physically drive the trains; I was asking him to drive rail policy. Will the Taoiseach outline to me, first, whether the Minister is responsible for railway policy and, second, the plans in place for investment in the Rosslare rail line?

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