Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Transport the way the 7% cut in the public transport investment programme will affect the roll out of public transport infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40252/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of increased capacity will be a key consideration in determining public transport investment priorities in the period ahead.

All of the public transport projects currently under construction will continue on schedule and some, such as the Cork-Midleton line, phase 1 of the western rail corridor and the Luas extension to the docklands, will be completed in 2009. Other public transport projects due to start shortly include Citywest Luas line, the Navan rail line and Dublin city centre resignalling.

The adjustment in capital funding for public transport investment will not have a significant effect on the roll out of the Transport 21 public transport programme and will not result in the postponement of the start of construction of any public transport project next year. The start and completion dates of public transport projects which have not yet commenced will be determined by the funding allocation available during the current difficult economic climate. The commencement dates for these projects will also be influenced by the time taken for public consultation, the relevant statutory process and the procurement and contract award processes.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I protest at the absence of my two priority questions, which the Minister refused to accept, and with no appeal to the Ceann Comhairle. They related to the €10 travel tax and also——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Chair has no control over whether questions are accepted or not.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I accept that. That is the problem, that the Minister can arrogantly refuse to deal with the key issues of the day.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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No doubt Deputy O'Dowd might refer the matter to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The absence of that issue, and the question on the €200 car parking levy is not acceptable to us.

On the Minister's response to this question, I do not accept that cutting back money means that all the projects will continue as proposed. He is spending €70 million less on public transport in this year's budget than he did in last year's. Clearly, something must suffer. What are the contracts that will not proceed? Where will be the delays? Is it that Government policy is moving away from national roads into public transport? It does not make sense.

The Minister referred to these difficult economic circumstances. Now is the time to build his public transport initiatives and to fast-track joining up the Luas lines. It is not the time to cut back.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I am afraid I cannot help the Deputy if he does not know the procedures of the House and if he does not know that tax matters are a matter for the Minister for Finance. Perhaps he might seek the guidance of the Ceann Comhairle's office on such matters.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The Ceann Comhairle does not have a role in this. The Minister refused to take the questions.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Stick to the questions that are properly before the House, please.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The information I have given to the Deputy is accurate. I have stated that the public transport projects currently under construction, such as the Cork-Midleton line, phase 1 of the western rail corridor and the Luas extension to the docklands, will continue on schedule. We will complete those in 2009. We will start the Citywest Luas line, the Navan rail line and Dublin city centre resignalling project. That is what is committed.

The projects already under way and continuing include the Cherrywood Luas line, the Kildare route project, the integrated ticketing project, the Luas capacity enhancement with two new trams, rolling stock and the intercity railcars. The ongoing programmes include the railway safety programme, removal of speed restrictions on railways, road-crossing automation on railways, Dublin traffic management, provincial cities bus priority, park and ride and accessibility for those mobility impaired. All of those are continuing.

As I mentioned, public transport projects that will begin shortly include the Luas extension to Citywest, phase 1 of the Navan rail line from Clonsilla to Pace and the Dublin city centre resignalling. Planning will continue on the metro north, the metro west, the Lucan Luas line, the Luas line BXD St. Stephen's Green to Liffey junction, the DART underground and electrification programme, the Maynooth rail line development, phase 2 of the Navan rail line, and phases 2 and 3 of the western rail corridor. All are continuing. All commitments are being met during the course of 2009.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The sums do not add up. I repeat that the Minister is spending €70 million less on public transport initiatives and new works. Clearly, there are cutbacks, there are delays or there are contracts not being signed. Is it perhaps that Dublin Bus will not get the buses it is expecting? It got 100 buses so far this year and it is expecting another 100. In the fine print of the budget there are things going on and the Minister is not being transparent and open about them here today. I do not accept his reply.

I also do not accept what the Minister stated about the role of the Ceann Comhairle. In the priority questions to the Department, the Minister alone is the person who decides whether they are accepted or not——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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We will stick to the questions before us.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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——without reference to me, to Deputy Broughan or to the Ceann Comhairle. The Minister has refused to face the arguments on the travel tax and on aviation policy, which will bank up.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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These matters are not properly before the House.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Aer Lingus will lose €30 million on this.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Did Deputy O'Dowd table the questions to the Minister for Finance?

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The Minister is refusing to debate them here.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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A final reply, an tAire.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Of what is the Minister afraid?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Please Deputy.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Did Deputy O'Dowd table the question to the Minister for Finance to whom it properly relates?

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I tabled the question to the Minister, Deputy Dempsey.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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If the Minister would put his remarks to the Chair as well——

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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These are the transport initiatives in the budget.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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——and if Deputy O'Dowd would resume his seat——

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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We are entitled to raise them with the Minister because he is the competent or incompetent Minister, as the case may be.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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——I will call on the Minister to make a final reply.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Clearly, Deputy O'Dowd, in his short time in the House — is it seven years? — has not learned the procedures of the House.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I am happy to have spent the seven years here.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is a very slow learner in these matters.

I will repeat for the Deputy, if he wants, the various projects committed to and being proceeded with in 2009. Budget provision is made for them all to advance and there is no change in that regard. If the answer does not suit the Deputy, that does not make it wrong.