Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have not yet received the correspondence but I will inquire about it. I am sure it is on its way to me. I assume the funding referred to by the Senator is the TEN-T funding stream. In my experience of dealing with TEN-T funding, the criteria tend to be carefully set by the European Commission. When I receive the letter, I will respond to the committee.

The State faces a challenge in its further expansion of the rail network in particular but not so much in building it, although that is expensive in itself.This is why TEN-T funding can help and is helping with some exploratory works that are being done on the development of a freight line for the Shannon Foynes Port. However, the great cost the State faces is in the maintenance of rail and then in the public service obligation, PSO, funding that is needed to provide the rail service itself. In my experience in recent years, the capital cost has less to do with the construction of a rail network and far more to do with its maintenance. Moreover, the current funding needs created by the maintenance of passenger services on the rail network are also extremely substantial. I am sure that if any future Minister must make a decision on the expansion of the rail network, these concerns will receive as much weight, if not more, than the cost of expanding the network itself.