The European Rail Supply Industry Association (UNIFE) has called on the Irish Government to support a significant increase in funding for the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) as negotiations begin on the European Union's Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034.

According to Railway Pro, UNIFE is urging Ireland, in its role as holder of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, to advocate for expanding the CEF transport budget from the proposed €51.5 billion to at least €100 billion. The association said additional funding would help deliver rail projects in Ireland and across Europe.

UNIFE identified projects such as MetroLink, the planned metro system for the Dublin metropolitan area, as examples of schemes that could benefit from increased European investment. The association said greater funding would support the expansion of Ireland's rail network, helping to reduce traffic congestion in major cities and encourage greater use of public transport.

According to UNIFE, Irish Government strategies indicate that up to 700,000 people could live within five kilometres of a railway station once planned rail investments are completed.

The association also said investment should extend beyond new infrastructure to include signalling systems, railway tracks, level crossings and rolling stock in order to improve the frequency and quality of rail services.

UNIFE Director General Enno Wiebe said the commencement of the MetroLink project was an encouraging development but described it as only the beginning of Ireland's wider rail ambitions. He said increased European funding would be needed to support future rail projects and improve sustainable transport options across the country.

Alongside increased investment, UNIFE said the success of future rail projects would also depend on reforms to public procurement and efforts to reduce administrative burdens, arguing that both would help strengthen the competitiveness of the European rail sector.

The association added that Ireland's role in discussions on revisions to the European railway regulatory framework could also influence the future development of rail transport across the European Union.