Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy is right. However, I am sure it has not escaped his notice that there were severe cuts in the two budgets in 2008, the budget in 2009 and that we will have severe cuts in 2010. The transport budget was cut by €60 million last year and while some of that cut fell on the regional airports, I tried to protect them as best I could. A major portion of the cut was applied to local and regional roads, but I then had to provide extra discretion due to the weather situation. I also cut provision to CIE in the public transport area. There will be further cuts in the transport budget this year in the coming budget. There is no way we can get out of our current difficulties if we do not have those cuts. This year -----

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