Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Minister may have opened a Pandora's box in his statement. The section on transport was several pages long. He came to the House to speak about transport, but his statement included three pages about sports capital grants. Any blame for the opening of a Pandora's box can be laid fairly at his feet, as I am sure he will accept.

I refer to the Minister's comment on the purchase of 41 rail carriages. I accept what he laid out. However, one of the delays was caused in going to tender for the purchase of second-hand carriages. Anyone who has any interest in transport knows that there is a particular gauge in use in Ireland and that the likelihood of finding second-hand carriages anywhere else in the world is very slim. I understand that only in Brazil and one territory in Australia is there a similar gauge in use and that rail carriages are in short supply in both countries. They will hardly have workable carriages available to sell to Ireland. The Minister might expand on why a tender was issued for second-hand rail carriages when even the smallest amount of research would have shown that they would not be available. That contributed to the delay and, possibly, the final cost of the carriages. I understand the cost is €150 million, but at one stage it could have risen to €160 million. It is to be hoped the final cost will be a little lower.

I will not apologise for speaking about rail services in the capital city where and greater Dublin area whre over one third of the population lives and just under 70% of all tax revenue is generated. We have to make sure the capital city works and that the city in which the highest tax revenues are generated for the State is protected. I am always sorry when I hear Fine Gael Members ask why the situation in Dublin is being discussed. The greater Dublin area is the economic engine of the country. It is welcome that the Minister is taking a particular interest in making sure this economic engine will continue to run. In this House I have always stood in social solidarity with those living in other regions which should receive investment. Fine Gael and, to some extent, Fianna Fáil, constantly criticise people for mentioning Dublinm, but I will not criticise the Minister for doing so. That is the reason he was called to the House today.

The Minister laid out the investment plan for the greater Dublin area. It provides for investment in rail services and the provision of extra electric engines, carriages, etc. The Sinn Féin Senator referred to profiling and overspending in other areas. I am concerned about whether the profiling of spending in the greater Dublin area in terms of investment in rail services will change owing to overspending in other Departments, as well as the Minister's. Some time ago I carried out a quick analysis of all of the road announcements made by the Minister, from County Mayo to Macroom, Dunsink and so on. On average, the figures are running at approximately 34% above the original estimated costs. That will create a €700 million hole in the Department's budget. Some call it profiling, but will there be delays because of the overruns on several projects? Will they be re-profiled, delayed or cut? Has any work taken place in the Department to assess the impact of overspending inside and outside the Department? Construction inflation happens, as I am sure the Minister is aware. When he was in this House and in the Lower House he was quite scathing of the Government when there was an overspend or an increase in spending, but there is construction inflation. Let us see how it impacts on the overall spend. The Minister can explain the figures.

I hope the Minister will forgive me for asking some questions not directly related to his brief. Kids Go Free was a campaign run by the NTA during the summer to promote use of the leap card system. The campaign was very effective and educated people on the benefits of moving to public transport. It is too late to have another scheme this year, but I ask the Minister to explore the idea that children should be able to travel for free during the Christmas period in the main urban centres. This would help to create an ethos of using public transport at an early stage in children's lives.

I refer to the DART line. About a month ago I spoke to a young woman who had lost consciousness while travelling on the line near Blackrock, but because of the crush of bodies she did not hit the floor of the train until it had reached Grand Canal Dock station. She was complimentary about the staff and passengers who had been around her, but it is frightening that somebody can pass out owing to overcrowding on the DART. I know that the NTA has done some work to try to encourage students to travel at alternative times on the DART and the Luas, but the introduction of a financial incentive to travel outside rush hour should be considered in the short term. This is a short-term problem which will take time to solve.

In a report in a newspaper the Minister may have been quoted incorrectly where it referred to the enforcement of the law in bus lanes in order to make maximum use of bus services and corridors. The report stated the Minister was not open to the idea of enforcement through the use of cameras and transferring responsibility for it to the NTA. He might avail of the opportunity to clarify the matter. I do not think having a garda stand in a bus corridor to make sure cars are not travelling in it is the best use of his or her time.

I have a plea to make to the Minister. I know that the matter is not within his remit, but perhaps he might use his good offices to make some progress in reintroducing for the Christmas period Operation Freeflow in the main cities, including Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, using gardaí on probation from the Garda College in Templemore. It would help to encourage more people to visit these cities. Operation Freeflow was last used in the 1990s when it was very successful. People on the roads today know how difficult it is to move around cities. I have noted the number of cars which move into bus lanes which affects not only the flow of buses but also cyclists who are put in danger. I ask the Minister to consider this issue. I know from speaking to him that he may have been misquoted in the report in the newspaper and hope he will clarify the position today.