Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress made in facilitating private sector players in the freight market here. [3109/06]

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Transport if his Department has had communications with rail operators interested in becoming involved in the rail freight business here; the action which has been taken to advance such proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3351/06]

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Transport the way in which his Department intends to meet its obligations as of 1 January 2006 under EU directive to open rail freight markets to competition; and if any private interest in the rail freight industry has been received. [3303/06]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Transport the details of all national rail freight closures in the past year; and if his attention has been drawn to further closures intended by Iarnród Éireann. [3304/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 139, 152, 178 and 201 together.

I have recently introduced regulations, SI 780 of 2005, the European Communities (Access to Railway Infrastructure) (Amendment) Regulations, 2005, transposing Directive 2004/51/EC on the development of the Community's railways. These regulations allow for the opening of the freight market to competition from 1 January 2006, in the case of international freight, and from 1 January 2007 for domestic freight operations.

While no formal applications have yet been received for a railway undertaking licence or for track access, my Department has received a communication from an operator stating their intention to establish themselves as a freight operator. My Department has been in touch with the operator, but no formal application has been received to date.

In relation to Iarnród Éireann's freight business, it is its goal to return this business to profitability. Significant progress has been made recently in this regard; in fact, the business is forecast to turn the freight operating deficit of €10 million in 2003 into a break-even position by 2007. To help achieve this turnaround, the company withdrew from loss-making single container movements on common user liner trains between Dublin and the provincial railheads in Ballina, Cork and Limerick on 29 July last year. This business continued to lose substantial moneys despite significant rationalisation of the cost base. I understand Iarnród Éireann is continuing to explore the expansion of its rail freight business where there are viable trainload business opportunities.