Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Luas extensions are proceeding through their various phases. We must give credit to public service agencies when they are doing a good job on our behalf. Surely we have not become so politically correct that we must criticise everything. The Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, has been doing a good job in moving those extensions through the various phases that must be passed in our democracy. This situation is similar to the matter of land acquisitions in other major projects and we must ensure that we can provide a means by which they can be financed.

These are not simple, get-up-in-the-morning and dig-a-trench-type projects, rather they are complex, necessary and ambitious and we are committed to them. Without making a political point, we all know of the historic underinvestment in this area for generations. As I remind the House often, we first required a railway safety programme before we could engage in an investment programme. We could not verify something was safe.

Let us be logical. The commitment to the projects remain. We must bring them forward as quickly as possible and the methods to do so are outlined in Transport 21. It is not a question of providing money today and having builders in tomorrow, rather it is a matter of working the consultative process with communities. Deputy Burton is aware of the phases and what must be done even better than I am. The costs of land acquisition and so on are considerable issues and significant moneys must be defrayed to address them.

I agree we must move as quickly as possible in respect of modes of public transport. Other cities can be examined, but this city needs it in particular and we are committed to this work.

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