Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I will take Deputy Troy's questions first. The figure for motor tax receipts is €1.1 billion.

The €16 million capital was carried forward because certain projects have been delayed a bit. The money is not lost and will be spent. I take the Deputy's point about the €500 million for the maintenance of roads and a very large amount of the capital budget goes towards the steady state, whereby we simply keep the roads and railways up to par. It is disappointing that such a large proportion goes towards this but it has to be the case. We should look for more money and it should not be reduced. There was a Supplementary Estimate last year which added to the amount quoted by the Deputy for regional and local road grants. We expect another Supplementary Estimate this year to add to the figure again.

I did not get involved in the Luas dispute as a Minister as I thought it would not have been wise and would have been unhelpful. Another reason was that it was in a private company and it would not have been appropriate. Many people would have expected a Minister to intervene but there is no State funding involved in the settlement. I am watching what is happening with the transport unions very carefully and trying to see if there might be any knock-on effects from that dispute. Various negotiations are taking place, which are at different stages, and the unions are obviously looking at that settlement with an eye to gains themselves. We will monitor the position very closely and it would be unfortunate if the precarious state of the bodies involved was in any way disturbed or agitated even further by massive items of expenditure. Fragile companies of that sort are not under siege but there are difficult industrial relations problems to be resolved over the next few weeks and months. It is of concern to me but there is no immediate crisis in that area.