Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)

That is good. I just want Government and departmental commitment to that project. It is what locals want as well. We do not have a motorway connecting the second- and third-largest cities in the country. It would not be seen in any other European country. I want a firm commitment and Mr. Doocey has given that.

On Mallow train station, I asked a parliamentary question and got a response on the amount of money being spent on private buses going from Mallow train station to Cork station. I fully understand work needs to be done on rail lines to upgrade them in the best way possible, but I cannot fathom that over €200,000 has been spent on private buses from a private company in the last 11 months. I was speaking to a number of people and followed up with a parliamentary question on the amount that has been spent on taxis. Did the Department ever consider a public bus system to give people the opportunity to travel to and from the city while upgrades to the tracks are ongoing? We are giving €200,000 of the public's money to a private entity.