Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)

I am hugely concerned about the lack of ambition in the national transport plan that was issued yesterday. Luas Finglas, which received planning permission this month, will not start construction until 2029. This is not a complicated project; it is a 4 km extension. Earlier this year, the Taoiseach promised to accelerate the Cork Luas. There is no funding for it in this plan. Similarly, DART+ South West is also now on the long finger. That has had full planning permission but it will not start construction until 2030. There is no funding for Luas to Lucan, Poolbeg or, indeed, Bray in our constituency. There is no funding for the reopening of the Waterford to Rosslare rail line, which is a critical project for the development of the south east. That has been ignored.

Incredibly, funding for active travel is not inflation-proofed in this plan, which really just amounts to an effective cut across the next five years. This failure to prioritise public transport means increasing gridlock, longer commutes and higher emissions. We all know why this is happening, and it is primarily so that money can be given to roads over public transport. The last Luas project was delivered in 2017. It will now be at least 13 years before there is a new one, and that is the short extension. How can the Government stand over this plan while claiming it wants to prioritise public transport?

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