Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I welcome the review group's report. While I do not agree with all its contents, I certainly welcome it as a forum for discussion and debate on rail services.

I worked for a company in Waterford Port for more than 20 years. In that time we had a booming freight business. Two trains a night came from Dublin and one each from Cork, Limerick and Belfast. We also had links with Sligo and Ballina. Almost 30% of port traffic in Waterford was by rail. However, it became uncompetitive and almost all that traffic is now by road. This increases the volume of heavy goods vehicles on the road, which is not good for the environment or road safety. I would welcome greater investment in rail services, especially freight.

I welcome what the Minister said in respect of public private partnerships, that he would investigate the possibility of PPPs for freight, in particular. One of the major companies in Waterford is prepared to invest money in the rail network to improve services and links. That is the direction in which we should go. We should welcome private investment in the rail network.

Looking at the report in terms of the south-east, although it states the "do nothing" strategic option has been rejected, it is alarming that the Limerick-Limerick Junction-Waterford-Rosslare line is excluded from those lines recommended for investment. The only conclusion to be taken from this omission is that services along this line will cease over time which will ultimately result in it being closed. This is exactly what one would expect from a "do nothing" approach. Certainly the people in the south-east are alarmed and concerned about the report in this regard.