Seanad debates

Thursday, 7 March 2019

Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters

Transport Costs

10:30 am

Photo of Kevin HumphreysKevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister mentioned Irish Rail, I compliment it as it has brought a number of significant projects in on time and within budget. Irish Rail's record in that regard may be a good example for the rest of the public sector.

I am a little cautious in response to the Minister saying it is the responsibility of the NTA to report to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It must be the responsibility of the Minister. It is a significant investment in public transport, which is badly needed, and we must monitor the budget extremely carefully. I believe there have already been significant overruns. Could the Minister refer in his response to the significant overruns that have already been indicated in relation to the core bus corridors? I imagine the overruns have already exceeded €100,000.

An amount of money has already been spent on those projects and concern has been expressed in regard to that. I understand they relate to Government policy in terms of the 2040 plan. I am also concerned by the fact that some Fine Gael Ministers and backbenchers have said they have no confidence in BusConnects and that they will resist any further progress on it. If Fine Gael is saying it no longer has confidence in BusConnects then let us stop spending further money on it. I have extensive quotes from various Fine Gael Ministers and Deputies saying BusConnects is not going ahead. If the project is not going to proceed because the Minister's partners in government no longer have any faith in it then for heaven's sake let us not spend taxpayers' money and flush it down the drain. If the project is to proceed, let us make sure that there is support for it from the Government parties.

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