Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge that there has been investment in large public transport projects in the greater Dublin area in recent years. It is all very well and good for the Minister to refer to the climate action plan, but the Government needs to invest the money to make its targets realistic. For example, there is no reference in Project Ireland 2040 to any new rail lines. We know the current structure is at capacity in many areas. There are serious problems with overcrowding. Does the Government have plans for any new rail lines throughout the State? From where we are standing, it is difficult to see that a real effort is being made to provide funding to encourage people, particularly in rural areas where the public transport system is non-existent or extremely poor, not to use their cars. The Minister knows that in many rural areas, there is no bus service on which one could rely if one wanted to leave one's car at home.

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