Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

The Deputy should allow me to conclude. Is it not a fact that subsidy increased from €18.9 million in 2000 to €82.9 million in 2008? The number of buses on the road remained more or less the same during that period, but over 200,000 houses were built in the greater Dublin area. The bus network was not adequate to meet the needs of the increasing population. It is absolutely imperative that the network should be expanded and that routes should be open to competition. We want to see more buses, more people on them and cheaper fares. We do not care what colour buses are painted as long as they are provided.

The Dublin Port tunnel, which cost almost €600 million, is the largest single item of infrastructure built since the foundation of the State. When the tunnel was completed, much of the basic equipment in it, namely, the Scada safety system and the heating and ventilation system, were not fit for purpose. Is it not the case that if an accident had occurred during the first two years in which the tunnel was in operation, the first four minutes of the warning period could have been lost? The point I am making is that the money was not spent because the Minister did not have oversight of it.

There is universal agreement that whatever happens in respect of the transport budget, the rural transport initiative should remain in place. I accept that savings must be made and practical approaches taken. However, public transport is available in our cities and it should continue to be available in rural areas.

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