Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Transport the proportions of the €39.6 million of trans-European cross-border funding that were spent on the Belfast to Dublin and Dublin to Cork sections of the Belfast to Cork railway line improvements; his expenditure of trans-European cross-border transport funding on the nascent DART underground project; if further trans-European transport network cross-border funding will be used to finance the Dublin DART underground project; if he will support an application to the trans-European transport network agency for a cross- border rail project from Derry city into the north-west region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46220/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Some €13 million has been allocated to Iarnród Éireann under the EU TEN-T, trans-European transport network, programme since 2000. Some €3 million was provided towards safety and upgrade works on the Cork to Dublin to Belfast rail line under the 2000 to 2006 TEN-T multi-annual indicative programme. Of this, approximately €100,000 was spent on the Dublin to Belfast section of the line. A further €10 million was allocated to the DART underground project, which connects the northern or Belfast line to the southern or Cork line, under the 2007 to 2013 TEN-T multi-annual indicative programme. In the case of the DART underground, this funding covers the design and development process, geotechnical investigations and various surveys and studies that include topographical surveys, condition surveys, archaeological surveys and utility surveys.

TEN-T funding, if approved by the TEN-T Executive Agency of the EU Commission, is provided at a rate of 50% of total costs for studies and 10% of total costs for works. For this reason, my Department applied for support for eligible projects contained within the Transport 21 investment framework and for which supporting Exchequer funding was available.

A Derry to Letterkenny rail link was examined as part of the strategic rail review undertaken by transport consultants Booz & Company on behalf of my Department and completed in 2003. The review did not recommend investment in the Derry to Letterkenny rail link. In light of the recommendation contained in the strategic rail review, a Derry to Letterkenny rail link is not a priority for investment in the current difficult economic situation. In such circumstances, it would be difficult to support an application for TEN-T funding in respect of such a rail link.

The next multi-annual programme of TEN-T funding commences in 2013 and consideration can be given at that time to further applications for TEN-T support for studies or works.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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I appreciate the Minister's dedication to rail travel. Let us consider the situation in the Minister's back yard and his support for the Navan railway line, which I welcome. My colleagues, Deputies McEntee and English, are very supportive of that project. I refer to the western rail corridor. We are joined in the Gallery today by two former Deputies, Mr. Breen and Mr. McHugh, who would have been advocates of the western rail corridor along with members of my political party.

This summer, I travelled on the Midleton to Cork railway line, which cost a total of €75 million. One cannot question the Minister's dedication to rail travel but the problems lies in connectivity.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The question, please.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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I remind the House that €10 million was allocated to the Inchicore to Pearse Street feasibility study which has been indicated as cross-border funding. That is a story for another day, but it is a story my constituents in Donegal find very difficult to fathom because European money for a cross-border project-----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Deputy, the question, please.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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The true missing link is the TEN-T project between Derry and Letterkenny. All we seek is an appraisal or feasibility study and the examination of a cost benefit analysis. That is all. I welcome the fact that the Minister has indicated that perhaps in 2013 it may be a possibility.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy indicated, it is one that can be considered in the context of 2013. The TEN-T funding is not solely for projects across international boundaries or cross-Border in the Irish context. The goal is the better use of existing networks and the completion of missing links, both of which apply to the DART underground project, as do other goals such as crossing natural barriers, for example, the Liffey in the case of the DART underground. I accept the Deputy's point, but in the context that the decision was taken, that it was not part of the Transport 21 proposals at that time, it could not be submitted for funding, but it is open again to people to make a case for that for 2013.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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The strategic rail review 2003 needs to be thrown out because it is outdated and completely out of tune with what is happening. This afternoon, the Government is going to load extra costs on private bus companies in County Donegal who are providing public services, and also on car travellers who do not have access to rail transport, as is the case in many urban areas. One has to marry what is happening now with what will happen in the future. One thing about Fianna Fáil-led Governments is that they only look to the long term in the context of the next election. We need long-term thinking and connectivity. Let us consider the possibility of getting on a train in County Kerry, going up through the western rail corridor, which the Minister has funded, and going to the fourth largest city in Ireland, Derry city, and on to Belfast. An all-island rail link is long-term thinking and given that extra costs are coming down in that regard, it has potential for tourism generation.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Again, I am not sure whether a question was asked but, in so far as there was one about long-term thinking, I welcome the Deputy's support for measures that will incentivise people to move from cars to public transport.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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That concludes Priority Questions. We now move to other questions.