Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

The absence of that issue, and the question on the €200 car parking levy is not acceptable to us.

On the Minister's response to this question, I do not accept that cutting back money means that all the projects will continue as proposed. He is spending €70 million less on public transport in this year's budget than he did in last year's. Clearly, something must suffer. What are the contracts that will not proceed? Where will be the delays? Is it that Government policy is moving away from national roads into public transport? It does not make sense.

The Minister referred to these difficult economic circumstances. Now is the time to build his public transport initiatives and to fast-track joining up the Luas lines. It is not the time to cut back.

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