I do not often suffer from delusions but I thought that last year I saw the Taoiseach climbing onto a tram in Merrion Square and subsequently advertisements stating that the next tram would be along in 2003. Given the fact that Goodbody Consulting indicated that the cost of traffic jams this year to the economy will be in the order of €600 million, which is 60% of the entire budget of the National Roads Authority for this year, would the Taoiseach confirm, in view of the contradictions from the Minister for Transport, if the Luas project is shelved or not, and if the proposed traffic corps is shelved or not? How is it that traffic backs up from St. Stephen's Green to Chapelizod and that Harcourt St. resembles the Burma Road? Is it not a fact that more people from the greater Dublin area and beyond now spend more of their waking hours travelling to and from this city in sheer and utter frustration and that business is losing hand over fist as a consequence of the inability to manage the city's traffic? What moneys and facilities will be put into Operation Freeflow, when will it commence and why has it not done so already? In view of the fact that the Department's own website says it is responsible for providing a well functioning integrated public transport sytem, will we see the trams in 2003? Will we have Operation Freeflow next week? Will the traffic corps begin acting immediately? Will the Taoiseach order or instruct his Ministers to sort out the unholy mess that is the worst traffic situation of any city in Europe today?

Deputy Kenny asked many questions. He asked about the Luas which is proceeding a few months behind schedule but the work is going ahead. I congratulate all those working on it as they have done an enormous amount of work in a relatively short period and say that it will be March or April 2004 when the work is complete.

His second question was about the proposed traffic corps which is also proceeding—

Where is the money?

Under the national development plan €6.75 billion is being invested in our roads—

The Government will not pay—

—which is an all time high. A large part of the roads' infrastructure is in the Dublin area where more than €0.5 billion is being spent on the port tunnel which will take almost 20,000 vehicles off the streets per day. The extension of the Balbriggan by-pass to link with the Ardee by-pass is only a year and a half from completion, and the southern cross and the Glen of the Downs projects are almost complete as is the widening of the M50. The private sector is involved in the building of the M50 bridge. The Minister is ready to proceed with several other major projects; this means that about €1 billion will have been spent on roads between this year and last. Fifty major schemes have been opened to traffic covering over 100 kilometres of road, including the Ardee-Dunleer, Macroom and Blackpool by-passes, and the southern cross route. This year about 20 major projects are under way involving almost 200 kilometres of roadway, of which 130 kilometres are dual carriageway or motorway standard.

There is none of it going through or around Cork.

A number of other projects are under examination. A framework for PPPs has been agreed with the social partners. Tolling will provide a high quality road network sooner rather than later. Other projects are being considered. The metro, a longer term project—

He is about to go underground now.

These are only babies. They are not going anywhere.

—is being managed by the Rail Procurement Agency.

I agree with Deputy Kenny that traffic has increased. Our economy has grown by 8% in five or six years and the downside is that we now have 600,000 vehicles and 1.4 million cars which take up much space on the road. That is why we must continue with our progressive policies on rail, the Luas and our roads.

When the Opposition was in Government, people were emigrating.

It is like pressing button B depending on which answer one wants to hear. I am glad to hear the Taoiseach talking about progressive rail policies. He should explain them to the workers in Athenry who lifted the line from Limerick to the West.

The Taoiseach did not respond to some of my questions. When can we expect to see the Luas in operation as it is not joined in the middle? There is no money in the Estimates for the widening of the M50, which appears to be shelved, nor for the traffic corps. When will we see this corps? As I said, Harcourt St. being like the Burma Road is one thing, but the cost of €600 million to the economy is over ten times the estimated saving for the so-called abolition of the first time buyer's grant. Will the Taoiseach answer these questions and tell us when we will see Operation Freeflow on the streets for this Christmas? Business people are astonished that it is not operational yet as they are losing trade hand over fist.

The Taoiseach has one minute.

The projected date for Luas is Easter.

The culprit is coming into the Chamber now.

Almost as bad as being in Opposition.

I wonder if the Minister for the Environment and Local Government is putting the finishing touches to another press release.

Deputy Rabbitte, in fairness, the Taoiseach is entitled to the same courtesy as every other Member and it is wrong that Members should try to frustrate any Member of this House in putting their contribution on the record. I ask Members to allow the Taoiseach to continue without interruption.

I will try to answer as many of the questions as I can. The latest date for Luas is March-April 2004. The arrangements for the traffic corps are in place. The work on the M50—

Where is the money?

The Deputy does not want to listen.

Deputy Shortall, you are not the leader of your party. You are not entitled to ask the questions.

The work on the southern motorway and the Southern Cross is going on. On the issue of the Galway-Claremorris road, the Minister said that a final decision will not be made on that matter until publication of the strategic railway plan. He has also made it clear that the line is being maintained on a care and maintenance basis. There has been no rail on that line but it can be restored very quickly. Operation Freeflow normally starts on or around 8 December, usually the Monday of that week, and this year will be no exception.