Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I am not in absolute control of this in the sense that I am waiting for people to get back to me on some technical and financial aspects. As soon as that happens I will go back to the Government as quickly as possible. I accept it is much better from the Government's point of view and that of the different companies involved in public transport that they have clarity on the issue as quickly as possible to allow enhanced activity in terms of what is required in all the areas of public transport. I do not have an argument with the Deputy on that but I have to be sure that the day I announce this plan on behalf of the Government, and when people look at figures, the hard cash will be provided with it, unlike previous plans or visions. Everyone will welcome that because it will bring certainty to companies, whether they are in the public or private sector, in terms of investment.

The third point was about A Platform for Change. The Platform for Change proposals are being integrated with this plan. There are specific Platform for Change proposals, Luas proposals, metro proposals and Iarnród Éireann proposals, all of which have much merit. We must ensure that when we finalise those proposals they all integrate and that, whether we choose one or the other, they connect up. The Deputy has heard me say previously that if we are investing in inter-city rail it is important that it can connect to the main hub of transport, be it Luas, metro or DART connectivity, and that all of that works in a cohesive way. It is not about favouring one company over the other but about considering what delivers for Dublin. There are other rail proposals and substantial road proposals for the rest of the country, which are key to the spatial strategy. We have engaged with local authorities to be absolutely sure they are lined up with what we want to do. The local authorities have rightly made the point that we should be well aware of the sort of investment they want to make and the direction of their planning proposals, for example, where major new housing or commercial developments will take place.

We want to plan the transport network now, not when developments are completed. It has been one of the curses of the country up to now that we have built first and introduced transport years later. I do not want to go down that road again.

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