Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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2. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address the leaking of the National Transport Authority's draft report on the review of the rail network and services; his views on the review; his plans to make Iarnród Éireann more financially sustainable; if he plans to discontinue any rail services as a result of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33004/16]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Minister to address the leaking of the draft report on the review of the rail network and services, to make a statement on the review, to outline his plans and those of the Government to make Iarnród Éireann more financially sustainable and to state whether he intends to discontinue any rail services as a result of the review. Can he say in his reply whether he thinks it was appropriate for a review of the magnitude of this one to be leaked to the media?

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I congratulate Deputy Troy on finishing the Dublin marathon in four hours and 15 minutes. It was an extraordinary achievement. The Deputy will only have to stay here for the next hour and a half, so he should be able to manage that.

The question before the House is very fair in many ways.

I have no idea about the leak. I regret the leak and I think it is a great pity that it happened. However, the report is due for release shortly and I will come to that in a moment.

As I indicated at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport's meeting on 5 October, I have received a copy of the rail review conducted by the National Transport Authority and Irish Rail. It examines the funding parameters required to support our rail network now and in future. I have already stated that I will bring the report to Cabinet and then immediately arrange for its publication and the commencement of a public consultation process to be conducted by the National Transport Authority. I intend to do this next week.

The review identifies a funding gap for Irish Rail based on the projected allocations prior to budget 2017. In the meantime, decisions under budget 2017 provide for additional funding of over €50 million to Irish Rail next year. This significant increase in funding for next year allows for increasing investment in maintenance and renewal of the network and the rolling stock as well as to provide more funding for safety projects. It is also encouraging to note that Irish Rail is experiencing business growth, with increases in the number of passenger journeys. The reopening of the Phoenix Park tunnel in the coming weeks for commuter services from the Kildare line to the stations between Connolly and Grand Canal Dock and the expansion of DART services to a ten-minute frequency will also help to grow the business.

While there has been much speculation regarding the future of individual rail lines, I wish to emphasise that no decisions will be taken on any of the options identified in the review in advance of the full process of public consultation. The latter will give the public and other interested parties the opportunity to see the analysis on rail funding and to contribute to all aspects of the debate on the future of rail.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for congratulating me on the marathon. I compliment the organisers of the event and the volunteers and supporters who lined the route. Sunday's Dublin city marathon was a tremendous occasion. I hope the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport supports those involved to the greatest extent possible because it was a magnificent showcase of Dublin at its very best. I wish to pass on my congratulations to the organisers and the supporters.

I asked the Minister a specific question but I do not accept his remarks in respect of the leaking of the report. How long has the Minister sat on the report? The report has been in the Minister's possession for months. One wonders whether the Minister was happy that the report was leaked before he brought it to Cabinet or the relevant Oireachtas committee or before the Dáil had an opportunity to debate it. That totally undermines the Oireachtas. It is difficult for people on this side of the House to have a meaningful and frank discussion, although that is precisely what the Minister has asked for previously in respect of how public transport develops over time. It is particularly difficult for us to have that discussion with our hands tied behind our backs and in the absence of a report that the Minister has sat on for months on end. Moreover, the report has been leaked to the national media and it has identified rail closures. I accept the Minister has said that there will be no rail closures before any consultation. Can the Minister rule out any rail closures, full stop?

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I totally reject any suggestion that it was in the interests of anyone to leak the report. It was highly inconvenient that the report was leaked. I have not sat on it for months. Deputy Troy should be more accurate about the matter. The reality is that I had intended to bring it to Cabinet this week. The Cabinet meeting was curtailed and a one-hour discussion was arranged because of the Brexit meetings at Dublin Castle today. That would not have given enough time for a report of this kind to be seriously considered by the Cabinet. To suggest that such a report could be seriously considered in an hour is absurd. I delayed the discussion until next week for that reason.

The Deputy should be well aware of the programme because I have made it absolutely clear. The report will be released immediately once the Cabinet has seen and considered it. It will then go to a public consultation and will be considered by the National Transport Authority afterwards. Recommendations will then be made.

Deputy Troy referred to the issue of rail lines being closed. I think it would be altogether wrong to prejudge any of the conclusions of this report or any conclusions of the NTA and I am not going to do so.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Time has expired.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Decisions will be made after that consultation.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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We must observe the time.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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When did the Minister receive the report? It is going to be publicised next week. How long then until the public consultations begin? We are aware that €60 million is needed to maintain the lines in a steady state. Can the Minister set out the level of capital deficit that has built up over many years of underfunding? How is that going to be met in the short term to ensure that we have a rail line infrastructure that is fit for purpose and does not compromise safety?

At a time when we are talking about needing more funding, surely to God what we should be doing is trying to increase passenger numbers rather than closing rail lines and introducing incentives to encourage people to use rail services. I was amazed last week to see that operators of car parks under the remit of Iarnród Éireann have introduced further disincentives for people to use the rail line by increasing car parking charges. That seems nonsensical.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The Deputy will know perfectly well that I do not and cannot get involved in the day-to-day running or operational activities of Iarnród Éireann in any way. We make policy, we do not interfere with what the company does in car parks or anywhere else. That is not our business and it would be absolutely wrong if we did interfere.

The Deputy addressed the issue of funding. Deputy Troy will be pleased to hear that over €50 million in additional funding was allocated to Irish Rail for 2017 in the budget. This will bring total funding next year to over €300 million. The rail review addresses what the Deputy has rightly identified as the chronic underfunding of Iarnród Éireann over many years and the difficulties the company faces at present. It addresses the possible solutions to that funding problem. One is further Exchequer funding, another is further revenue and yet another relates to cutting costs. These are rather dramatic and we have to make a decision in respect of them in due course following the public consultation process.