Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Smith for raising these important transport issues. I am happy to defend the Government's record on investment in all forms of transport across the country over the last number of years. That is evident for anyone to see when looking at the investment in active travel, the expansion of public transport services and the investment in our road network to name a few examples. In the budget we provided an overall allocation to the Department of Transport of over €3.5 billion to provide vital services to the public across next year. That represents an increase of €90 million on gross expenditure levels in 2023. The Deputy will be well aware of what the Government has done so far with the 20% reduction in average public transport fares and the 50% reduction for younger people. In the recent budget we have expanded the eligibility cohort that will be in a position to avail of that. That has resulted in a very significant increase in the number of people using our public transport services, and that is a good thing. It shows that where services are provided and fares are reasonable the public will respond because they want to be able to avail of a good-quality, efficient service and get away from the gridlock we have seen and continue to see on some of our road networks. We are investing €360 million a year in active travel and I think all of us as constituency Teachtaí Dála have seen examples of fantastic greenway projects, improved pedestrian facilities, cycling facilities and infrastructure in our communities which have given a huge tourism boost as well and enhanced the leisure amenities available in communities throughout the country.

We are fully committed to a wide range of major public capital transport projects. Many of them are going through the approval process in the planning system. We await the outcome of that, but the Government has signalled its full commitment to the implementation of those projects, because our population is growing and our economy is growing. The need is clear and we need to invest further in public transport in Dublin and indeed around the country in the form of sustainable transport corridors, the BusConnects project, the major MetroLink project and the DART projects we have. The Government is committed to them.

We have made the decision, as the Deputy will be aware, to increase the overall public capital programme using some of the windfall corporation tax receipts of €2.25 billion. One of the funds we are going to set up provides for a dedicated infrastructure, climate and nature fund whereby over €3 billion of additional funding is earmarked for projects, including public transport, that will help us achieve our emissions reduction targets. We are fully committed to implementing the ambitious plans we have for public transport.

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