Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

The Tallaght line was delivered to Connolly Station in the face of ferocious resistance from vested interests.

The Labour Party has long been on the record as advocating a DTA placed on a statutory basis with the power to direct and implement policy across transport agencies and that is democratically accountable to the citizens of Dublin and its environs, but what of the other regions? For example, should the Ceann Comhairle's region in the south west not have a transportation authority? Is there a role for a national transport authority to oversee the development of Transport 21?

The policy has been an abject failure. My constituency includes the largest urban development in the history of the State, but it has been waiting for a new DART station at Clongriffin for more than four years. The unbelievable saga of the building of a simple DART station typifies problems in transport.

A disturbing new trend involves the disposal of valuable public lands owned by some transport agencies. Deputy Higgins has led the campaign to oppose the sale of approximately 14.5 acres at Ceannt Station in Galway for residential and commercial development. How can we promote an integrated and sustainable public transport system when we sell lands that could be used for significant transport developments, particularly in the growing city of Galway?

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