Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Yes, but we have to get the design first and we have set up the team to deliver that. We can go to construction once we get the railway order. There is a shortfall in funding. This is often very contentious because representatives from various constituencies come to me and ask me to fund X, Y and Z.

That funding should prioritise public transport because it has been totally underfunded for the past 50 years and the car-dependent system we have created is crippling our transport system. That goes back to what the Deputy said about how the system is not working because we have created such a car-dependent system. Public transport frees up everyone and benefits everyone. We should be prioritising it and I will do that. Even if we got all the funding, I am told that if everything goes well, we will be able deliver by 2031, 2032 or 2033. It is our job in the political system to drive the administrative system to deliver on time. I do not see anyone disagreeing with me on that when it comes to the Navan rail line. It is that sort of timeframe if we get everything right, so let us go and get everything right.

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