Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)

Transport 21 is a big issue and the more proper transport systems we put into the country, the better off we will be. We know there is €70 billion, a significant amount of money, for 40 projects, but the costs of the projects have not been indicated. I listened when my party leader asked the question and we could not get an answer on the reason we are not being given an actual price for these individual projects.

Everything can be brought back to a small issue rather than talking about €70 billion. If a person builds a house, a set of plans is submitted to a surveyor and the amount of doors, windows and slates is indicated, and the surveyor comes back with a price. There is no issue that could prevent the Minister telling the House or public how much it will cost to complete each of the 40 individual projects it is intended to carry out.

Thinking politically, the Government may feel it has €70 billion for 40 projects, but it does not know which to carry out because it does not know which will be most effective with regard to elections. That is not the way for any Government to carry on. Everyone agrees the metro and the other systems should be completed, but it is a total abuse of taxpayers' money, particularly with an amount of €70 billion, not to tell the taxpayer what each project will cost.

I listened to the Minister speaking on the issue that day. Thinking about it for a day or two, his excuses were not good enough. To build a railway from Navan to Dunboyne, it would be known how many tracks, sleepers and land is required. It all adds up. It is not a big secret. It is totally contrary to the way we bought lands for a jail. We told the person in that instance that the price should not be in excess of €200,000 per acre.

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