Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Transport, Robert Troy says the key challenge for the Government will be to deliver on the transport infrastructure commitments it has made through the National Development Plan.
Deputy Troy said that Fianna Fáil has been pushing the Government for a substantial increase in investment in transport infrastructure, not only in Dublin but right around the country.
“Traffic congestion is causing significant hardship for people and a lack of proper planning by Government has compounded the problem. This plan represents an opportunity to address the mistakes made by Fine Gael in Government,” Deputy Troy said.
“The key challenge for the Government will be to deliver on the commitments that it has made. Improved roads and rail infrastructure will only help people if they are actually delivered. Of the 25 road projects identified in the last capital plan, which was published three years ago, only five have been commenced. Many will not be delivered until 2025 at the very earliest. Time and time again we have seen Fine Gael launch ambitious plans that end up going nowhere.”
Deputy Troy added that the completion dates for all of the projects listed in the plan are well in the future, meaning they will do nothing for the “tens of thousands of commuters that have to wait for an hour” to catch a bus in the morning.
“The CEO of Irish Rail recently confirmed to me that the lead in time for getting new train carriages into operation is at least three years,” he continued. “The Government remains a long way off from delivering any meaningful change for public transport users.
“Never has the need been greater for a new body to co-ordinate the delivery of critical national infrastructural projects. Fine Gael need to ensure that they actually deliver on the commitments that have been made, this announcement can’t just fall by the wayside like previous ones.”
