(Dublin South-Central): With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 8, 9 and 10 together.
CIE's capital allocation is fixed each year by the Government as part of the capital budget, with due regard to the requirements of urban public transport.
When setting up the Transport Consultative Commission I asked that priority be given to an examination of the problems in relation to the provision of urban passenger transport services, particularly in the Dublin area, and the commission have initiated their investigations in this matter. I have no doubt that the commission's deliberations will cover all relevant considerations, including energy conservation and the relative merits of alternative modes of transport. The implications for investment in public transport of whatever recommendations are made by the commission will, of course, have to be considered in due course.
CIE's proposals for the electrification of the Howth-Bray suburban railway are at present being considered independently of the studies being carried out by the Transport Consultative Commission but a decision on these proposals has not yet been taken. If these proposals are approved, it follows that CIE's capital allocation will be increased, as necessary, to provide for the implementation of the proposals.