Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

That is a key question. I do not claim to be an expert on public transport. However, some of the issues are clear. If one is to provide the best in terms of maximum capacity on a daily basis, then that presents one obvious solution. If one opts for different solutions, one provides different loading capacities, different levels of capacity and different usages.

As I acknowledged at the outset, the Deputy is correct to state that north Dublin has a clear need for significant investment in a transit system. I have publicly stated as much and there is no question about it. It is ironic that the Taoiseach who is from north Dublin has been so generous to the people of south Dublin in terms of the transport solutions which have been provided there. As I tried to explain to the Deputy, it was wrong to present a solution for north Dublin merely as an airport link. Deputies Shortall and Olivia Mitchell have often raised with me issues of spatial planning, capacity, the opening of new land in north Dublin for good quality, good value housing and the need to connect existing residential areas on the northside. One must examine the cost of making such provisions without distorting one's investments in other areas of Dublin and the rest of the country. Many Deputies raise with me the question of the western rail corridor. My aim in the ten-year envelope is to balance all of these competing needs. Clearly, everybody's wish list cannot be fulfilled.

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