Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Transport the nature of his discussions with private sector rail freight operators; if he supports the entry of such operators into the market; if so the action he intends to take to encourage such a process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21931/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The European Communities (Access to Railway Infrastructure) (Amendment) Regulations, 2005 (S.I. 780 of 2005), transposes Directive 2004/51/EC on the development of the Community's Railways. In line with developments across the EU, 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. The rail freight industry across the EU is aware of these developments.

No formal applications have been received by my Department for a railway undertaking licence or for track access. In 2005, my Department received a communication from an operator stating their intention to establish themselves as a freight operator. My Department was in touch with the operator, but no formal application has been received to date.

As I have said on a number of occasions, I welcome the development of a liberalised rail freight market and I am open to considering proposals from interested parties on any innovative or new approaches to rail freight which offer value for money, where a real and tangible return on Exchequer investment can be demonstrated.