Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I will look at you in order not to attract any attention. Dublin Bus should not be putting the blame on Luas. Dublin Bus management has never stated that the company has not enough buses, but it is using the success of Luas as an excuse for not developing services in parts of my constituency. As someone who does not have a marketing degree, I say that it does not take quantum physics to figure that out. There are many opportunities for the development of public transport in the Tallaght region. I will continue to make the point about my town and its surrounding communities. Every day people from urban and even rural parts of my constituency raise public transport issues with me.

In his fine address, the Minister of State outlined the Government's actions on public transport in the greater Dublin area. Other colleagues are entitled to hold different views, but it is a fact that the Government has invested in public transport improvements since 2000. The DART fleet has practically been doubled. New eight-car peak services have been introduced, providing for 30% more passengers. For the outer suburban lines, passenger-carrying capacity was increased on the northern line to Drogheda by 50%, on the south-east line to Arklow and Gorey by 30%, on the western line to Maynooth by 66%, and on the south-western line to Kildare by 130%. Some 117 km of quality bus networks are in place in the greater Dublin area, including my own constituency. Peak capacity has been increased on all main routes into Dublin, as the Minister of State said. I recall various adverse comments made in this House and indeed, the media, about the Luas. The Luas is a tremendous success on both lines. It is used by many people coming and going to Tallaght. Now that we know that the extension to Citywest is to take place, it is kind of the Minister of State to mention the various estates and it is good to open them up. I have been pointing out to the RPA that stops must be included at Fettercairn, Brookfield and out towards the west. It is important to take every opportunity to make that point.

Transport 21 will entail enormous investment over the next ten years. It will include in excess of €13 billion being spent on transport, here in the greater Dublin area, and also in our major cities and on bus fleets countrywide. We have all been pleased to see progress over the last 12 months, with the railway order for Cherrywood Luas being signed in August. Public consultation of the extension of the Luas from Cherrywood to Bray also began in August. The Minister for Transport will shortly decide on the railway order for the Docklands Luas.

This is a very important debate. We are all entitled to our political views and perspectives. It is good, too, that we are able to share information and fight for our constituencies. I hope the Minister of State will let the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, know we are doing that.

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