Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister responded to comments from Senator Ó Clochartaigh about the integration of the European rail network with Ireland. If I interpreted those remarks correctly, he referred to the Dublin-Belfast line as being perhaps the only example that would be part of that integrated policy. Before Christmas, as one of its members, I had the honour of representing the transport committee, along with its Chairman, Deputy John O'Mahony, and Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice at a seminar organised by the European Parliament on this matter. All three of us made the same contribution in various ways but a common theme was that the policy adopted by Europe, which seems to have been agreed by the Irish Government, is based on population density figures. This means that the vast majority of the rest of the country is not eligible for funding under this European rail network. The Dublin-Belfast line is eligible because it is on the east coast, which has a larger population.

We returned from Brussels and discussed just last week our visit in the context of the end-of-year report to the committee. The committee agreed that it would write to the Minister directly and ask if his Department would encourage a change in the criteria that would allow for financial encouragement for peripheral areas in the country. The development of the rail network will not stop; it may be piecemeal in nature but it will go on. I have a great hope that a Minister for transport in the near future will reopen the western rail link, even if only for freight transportation. Irish Rail is in favour of that and neither the Government nor the Department is against the proposal in principle. It is a financial issue. The development of a rail network will go on in different ways and areas. If we remain party to this European policy that is based on high population densities, we will not get any financial benefit from Europe for the development of rail in the peripheral regions.

I am not sure if the Minister has had the opportunity to read the correspondence, which would have been sent in the past week. If he has not read it, I respectfully request that the Minister take the time to do so and, hopefully, respond.