Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I have a number of questions on this programme. The introduction of the third Luas line has exposed a capacity constraint in the city centre in terms of the amount of surface space to be shared. A project that is not included in the national development plan is the DART underground. The Minister referred to how every part of the country was accessible, but the place that is probably the least accessible is the one where there is the greatest amount of public transport. As part of this meeting, we will be considering matters such as moving people into more sustainable types of public transport owing to potential fines, since transport is one of the main areas in respect of which those fines will be incurred. Is the Minister involved in any discussion on revising the plan or is there any scope for such a reconsideration in this year's budget?

I asked questions about the rolling stock. The point of order to the point of delivery takes five years and I understand that there is nothing on order at the moment, although some rolling stock is being refurbished. To use the Maynooth line as an example, services that originate in Maynooth are standing room only even from the first train at 6.40 a.m. until it reaches Leixlip, which is the next stop. We can only move people onto sustainable forms of public transport if that transport is available. They would undoubtedly use it.

Is there any scope with regard to orders regarding new rolling stock in the budget at which we are looking or will any be initiated?

In respect of the roads programme, I know some of the money goes to Transport Infrastructure Ireland and that is for national roads. Other funding comes from the local property tax. About ten local authorities are required to self fund from the local property tax. For example, Dublin funds entirely through the local property tax. It does not get a transfer from Transport Infrastructure Ireland. What account, if any, is taken in this budget of the local property tax in the figures that have been presented? Is that an additional amount? Given that this is being revisited, is the Minister accounting for the changes that might happen as a consequence of those changes and that might reduce the amount that is required to be self funded by some of the local authorities?