Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It can undermine public confidence in the way the State does its business. In 2010, when we were at the height of an economic crisis, projections would have been at an all-time low and the general outlook was uncertain, to say the least. Yet, we still get a higher turnout on the basis of the investment. Let us move on to 2015 when things are looking far brighter. We are understood to be the fastest-growing economy in Europe. We are now getting back to the same level of pressure on housing and an ever-increasing demand for public transport. The M50 is rapidly reaching its capacity. As the deputation will know, sections of the M7 are at breakneck point at certain points of the day. Yet, there is a change in the methodology and a significant infrastructure project, which would alleviate some of the constraints I have referred to relating to other surface transport options, seems to deliver less value to the State. It is hard to comprehend that in real terms.

A person can write an algorithm to give an output for whatever he wants. That is not a problem. Calculus is fantastic when we decide to use it in a particular way. However, in real terms it will take more to convince me, and many others who find themselves in gridlock on a daily basis, that this is anything other than a political sidestepping of an important issue.

The establishment of the authority was the right thing to do at the time. It created an independence from the old adage, practised by all political parties, of having key projects that delivered certain political benefit. It was a question of separating that and ensuring public transport was delivered on the basis of need rather than political realities. The same situation relates to water. This is why, the Government would tell us, Irish Water was established. It was to take out that prioritisation by politicians.

The difficulty is that it tends to undermine things. Give the case where a scenario changes, it tends to undermine public confidence in the work that the authority does. I am not accusing the authority of anything. I am simply pointing out how I believe the authority needs to do more to convince all of us about how the DART underground and its wider implications are of lesser importance and lesser benefit to the State now than in 2010.