In their deliberations the consultants were also asked to take account of the following: various land use and transportation strategies being developed by local authorities and other proposals for expanding rail infrastructure and services; the European Commission White Paper on European transport policy for 2010; passenger and freight links with Northern Ireland and relevant published regional transport strategies and plans in Northern Ireland; quantify the broad financial requirements – capital investment and ongoing operational-maintenance costs – for the recommended railway development strategy, including consideration of the implications for the Exchequer in terms of capital and current funding, the scope for alternative funding mechanisms and pricing policies; assess the costs and benefits of the recommended strategy, to include an assessment of likely usage, regional development impacts, environmental impacts and other transport impacts, including safety, congestion relief, diversion from other transport modes and other externalities.