Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and will try to be succinct.

I have no doubt that the Minister is aware about the excellent presentation that we received from Iarnród Éireann on its plans to help us to decarbonise transport, which is timely in the context of the report published by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Action last week. Of course there are different challenges in rural areas compared with urban areas. What I like about the report is that the committee had a plan for every place. For example, they seek to electrify lines, I suppose within the Pale, and outside providing hybrid engines and, in the process, shortening journey times and increasing the number of services, which goes to the kernel of what we are trying to do to get more people off the roads and use more public transport. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of services in rural areas, as the Minister knows, thus the need for more solutions to be found in terms of providing bus transport and a framework of tailor-made services to provide public transport, depending on the areas. To get the best solutions requires input by local communities. We also do not want to end up displacing transport operators in areas who pay insurance, follow the regulations stipulated by the Taxi Regulator and provide a service that meets the standard. A balance must be struck and it must be done in co-operation with the communities and transport operators.

I would like to see priority given to some of the plans Iarnród Éireann wishes to roll out, especially in the context that we are behind in the transport emissions targets for 2020 and face being fined. When one puts all of that into the mix, it may be worthwhile accelerating or bringing forward some of the investment that is planned providing that it does not all apply to Dublin and we do not have to go walking or using high-speed cars in other parts of the country. It would be great to have an overall plan. I also think we need to consider freight. The second largest freight yard is in Ballina, County Mayo, where I am from and I know it needs more work and investment. It also has more potential to take heavy freight off the roads.While it is paying for itself, it needs capital investment as a matter of priority. Turning to rail services, the western rail corridor could help us to reduce carbon emissions from transport while also helping to realise plans for the Atlantic economic corridor. While I acknowledge that a study is being done in that regard, I note to the Minister that in respect of decision-making, we are in a bit of a vicious circle in rural areas. Regarding a cost-benefit analysis and economies of scale, we always run into a bit of a problem in terms of priority over other transport projects in areas with larger populations. However, applying only that measure is very short-sighted because the more we fail to invest in rural areas, the greater the pressure that will fall on urban areas. We will never create the balance we need. Am I running out of time?