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

There is nothing new in the Minister's reply in terms of what will happen here and now. If one considers capital investment in transport, it was €3.8 billion in 2008 but fell to €1 billion in 2016. Congestion costs the State millions of euro every year and it robs people of their lives by ensuring they spend long periods commuting to and from work. The National Transport Authority, NTA, only advises Dublin Bus annually on what funding it will get. It cannot plan even 12 months in advance in terms of ordering new buses, for which there is a lead-in time of nine to 12 months. The Minister spoke about cycling and increased investment in cycling infrastructure. This is factually incorrect. The Minister's reply to another parliamentary question I tabled stated that in 2015, a sum of €18.8 million was invested in cycling infrastructure whereas last week, the Minister confirmed at the committee meeting on the Estimates that in 2018, only €8 million would be invested.

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