Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to highlight the innovative thinking of the Railway Procurement Agency which operates the Luas. It is marketing cables, bridges, stops and other infrastructure on the light railway network to telecoms operators. I do not suggest that all semi-State transport companies should take a similar approach but this is an innovative move by the RPA which is expected to yield significant sums for the company. According to the RPA, the Luas infrastructure has the potential to support the delivery of a range of communication and wireless services, particularly as it penetrates busy parts of Dublin city. My question is - why should we stop at the Luas? Other State-supported agencies and transport networks should undertake an audit to find out if there is any benefit to be had from a co-ordinated approach in marketing their infrastructure potential to telecoms operators. Consider the potential that exists in the Irish rail network, for example, which links almost every major town and city in the country. Ultimately, this adds to the value of our transport system and could deliver significant benefits for consumers. This is something we could usefully debate in the House when the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, attends here.