James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In respect of the previous speaker's points, I am sure he would not wish the Government to fail to promote discussion and debate on many of these issues.

I wish to raise with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the public transport system in north Dublin and the planned electrification of the line down to Balbriggan and on to Drogheda. The growth of population in this corridor has been the fastest and largest in the country as is bourne out in the past number of censuses. It is very clear we have an opportunity to put facilities in place before we find ourselves unable to cope. It is in the Government's capital plan and is due for completion in 2022. I wonder if the Leader could get the Minister to come into the House to tell us what has been done to date, that is whether the design technical work is complete; when will the business plan be finalised; and whether there is an estimated cost and the date for submitting a railway order from An Bord Pleanála.

I wish to raise another issue in respect of the people of Rush, who are very pleased that Irish Water and the Government are putting in new sewage treatment plants to deal with the clear deficit that has been there for decades and that we will see the return of clean beaches and that people can now allow their children build on the small pockets of land around Rush that could not have been developed and also to allow for further housing. There is a major problem in that some of the works have now resulted in the closure of a road between Rush and Skerries and this is providing very difficult. In conjunction with Irish Water, they put in place a shuttle bus service, but I would like to know why Dublin Bus is not bringing the bus to Rush which it used to do historically and turn around down near the health centre. What has really upset people is that there is no shuttle bus to link the Nitelink to Rush and all the people who are working on shift work in Dublin Airport and many other areas now have no means of getting home late at night.Perhaps when the Minister is here he might address that issue also. I hope the Leader will bring him to the House to address these matters.