Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I certainly do not. I agree that in the early days of the investment programme, it was quite clear the construction sector and the systems that were in place were not geared to take the enormous volume of investment the State wanted to make. There were problems in the early days in that regard, no doubt. However, we are all very heartened by experience in the last few years, Ireland having developed the most formidable construction sector of any country across Europe. Projects are all being delivered on budget and quite substantially ahead of schedule. It is time we stopped knocking the agencies involved which comprise some very good people whom I have met in recent years and who are doing a fantastic job at all levels. No one has the ideal panacea. The solutions cannot be delivered overnight, but quite clearly I do not agree with the Deputy that this is not an integrated approach to the development of transport, both in Dublin and around the country. A formidable, integrated transport solution is being presented. Every month, almost, the integration is seen to be coming together for Dublin. We see the completion of the Naas dual carriageway upgrade to three lanes in either direction, as well as the opening of the largest urban infrastructure tunnel ever built in Europe, the port tunnel, working very successfully. Yes, we need the completion of the M50 upgrade which will increase capacity by 50%, and freeflow tolling. The traffic coherence to be brought about when all those projects have been completed will work extremely well. We are well advanced in our planning on metro north and as regards the Luas network. The first new railway station, which only started last year, will be opened in Dublin next month, in the docklands. It only physically started last year, so great credit is due to Iarnród Éireann for delivering a new railway station on that basis.

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