Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In 2016, a dire picture was predicted of a €3 billion deficit for our roads. How far behind are we now? What progress has been made? How much do we need to spend each year to counteract that deficit?

Is it correct that two of the major capital road programmes listed are public private partnership, PPP, projects? There are serious questions about the value for money from PPPs. What has the Minister done since coming into office to gauge what sort of value for money we are getting from PPPs? Has he conducted any analysis or does he intend to commission any reports on this matter? Will the two PPP projects in question be tolled roads?

The Minister has promised the public transport forum for quite some time. In fact, prior to Christmas, he said he hoped to schedule it for 4 March. We are now in mid-April but there is still no sign of it.

Recently, we saw the Minister outsource some Kildare bus routes. What further plans has he to outsource the public transport network? The Minister pretty much glossed over rural transport in his opening statement. He did not outline in detail what plans he has for public transport in rural areas, particularly in light of the drink-driving legislation which is coming forward. Will he give some detail on his plans for rural transport and how he proposes to improve it?