Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I share the Deputy's aspirations and aims. The timetable has gone askew. That is obviously a product of the financial crisis, but that does not mean that we do not still have ambitions. We still have those ambitions and commitments. I accept the fact that if there are clean, good and efficient public transport services in Dublin, it will very definitely contribute towards a reduction in emissions. That is our policy, as one can see. The timetable may not keep the Deputy happy and it does not keep me happy either, but the cross-city Luas service will commence next year, I hope, and it will make a great difference. I have already introduced an alternative fuels infrastructure project to the Cabinet. We have a national mitigation plan which recognises what we are attempting to do in this area within the limited resources available to us as a result of the crash which has certainly thwarted our ambitions.

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