Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I asked the NTA last week about all the projects it is responsible for rolling out over the next years, including BusConnects and the new pilot project for rural transport. It indicated it will recruit additional staff. I presume the increase in funding for public transport agencies is to cater for increased recruitment. Will the Minister confirm that?

The Minister said that 60 to 70 new rail carriages will be ordered. My understanding from speaking with the NTA and Irish Rail is that Irish Rail originally hoped to acquire second-hand carriages but it felt this would be an inefficient use of resources given the lead-in time involved and the time needed to recondition the carriages. As a result, it has decided to wait and order new, purpose-built carriages. Capacity on Irish Rail is a serious issue. When will that tender go out? Has the Minister a clear timeframe for when the order will be placed? There is a lead-in of 24 months from when the order is placed. It is critical that the tender is published and the order placed in the not too distant future.

The Minister gave a good overview of retrofitting and what has been done on disability services. I acknowledge that. Have we a clear programme of work? In the next three, four or five years, we intend to make every public transport facility wheelchair-accessible and to have the right audio and other enabling equipment so everyone, regardless of disability level, will be catered for.

If the Minister has answered my next question, I apologise. On carbon reduction, Ireland had a great responsibility to change its method of transport and acknowledge it has a carbon emissions problem. Transport is the second biggest contributor in Ireland. A sum of €7 million to tackle it seems like a drop in the ocean. A carryover of €1.9 million last year leads me to believe the Department is not treating this matter as seriously as is required and with sufficient priority. If we do not meet our targets by 2020, how much will we be fined? I accept it will not just be the Department.