Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister would have to agree that there is a huge deficit in investment in our transport infrastructure and the consequences of that are quite serious in terms of the deficit in our road, rail and public transport systems.

4 o’clock

Whenever we have raised the issue of the need for additional funding, the Minister has always stated the current capital plan is adequately funded and that new projects must be reviewed as part of the review of the new capital plan. Last week I was part of a party delegation in Brussels meeting with the European Commission's Directorate General on Mobility and Transport. What was patently clear was that the Government is not making applications for potential EU funding. The Commission wants the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and agencies under the auspices of that Department to put forward transport infrastructure projects to avail of the funding under the Juncker plan. Why has the Minister not been doing this? Will he publish his Department's submission to the review of the capital plan?

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