Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)

In the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, we have a Minister who has highlighted the project as being one he considers as meriting acceleration. My reply states that it is one of the projects highlighted by the Minister for Transport for possible acceleration as part of the review of the NDP which was completed recently. It has clearly been identified as something that can be brought forward, possibly ahead of the usual timelines for the delivery of projects such as this.

As I said, something like a Luas extension is far less controversial and easier for communities to buy into than other forms of transport. We have seen issues with BusConnects. Metrolink has not been smooth sailing. The extension of a Luas has many benefits and is something everyone can get behind.

I take the point of the Deputy on various playing pitches and the opportunity to see benefits. In the grand scheme of the cost of a project like this, an all-weather pitch is probably a small price to pay. I am not sure how that would work out in the long term. It is something the Minister will have to consider. It is all good.

Deputy Byrne has tabled a Topical issue which seeks something similar to this. What the Deputy is looking for is probably far more realistic and can be delivered within a short period of time. Many areas would love to have the type of timelines we are talking about. We talk about large projects and how quickly they can be delivered. I think we will all be alive to see this project delivered.

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