I note in today's newspapers the penitential experience of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, who was stuck at the Blanchardstown by-pass. He has my sympathies.

Did he pay his toll?

For this relief, much thanks.

Allow Deputy Sargent to speak without interruption.

Is it not clear that the rail line to Navan is overdue and must be constructed? The line should be built all the way to Navan rather than provided on a phased basis to Dunboyne. Will the Taoiseach act on the promise to construct the line? Fianna Fáil was elected in 2002 on the basis of a manifesto which promised the provision of new regional and commuter routes including a Dublin-Navan rail line.

Clonsilla.

The manifesto referred to a Dublin-Navan line. It should be provided on the basis of the prioritisation of the reinstatement of the former inland rail route from Navan to Dublin in the 1994 Dublin transportation initiative, the 1999 strategic planning guidelines for the greater Dublin area and the DTO Platform for Change of September 2000. According to the DTO Platform for Change, a new rail spur was to be constructed off the Maynooth line near Clonsilla via Dunboyne to Navan by 2010 in three stages. Planning and design of the Navan line to railway order stage was to have been completed by 2003, construction of the line from Clonsilla to Dunboyne by 2006 and the extension to Navan by 2010.

It is time to apologise for the foot-dragging and face up to the promises that have been made and the series of reports which state this must be done immediately. The Government should do so now rather than wait for the by-election to make a new announcement when it was already on the cards and promised and on which the Government was elected on the basis of delivering it.

We have put €1.2 billion into different aspects of rail transport. Two weeks ago Deputy Higgins asked me about the Clonsilla to Dunboyne line.

The Taoiseach was asked about the Navan line.

In reply to Deputy Higgins's question regarding the Clonsilla to Dunboyne——

We did not ask the Taoiseach about that.

I will answer the question.

Will the Taoiseach get around to answering the question?

The Deputy submitted his question to the Taoiseach and was heard without interruption. The Taoiseach must have the same courtesy.

His own Deputy mentioned two phases. One must start with the first stage before getting to the last stage. We are not building with Lego.

Studies have been finished regarding the Clonsilla to Dunboyne line, the situation is well advanced and planning is almost certain to go ahead. The next stage, the feasibility study, is being undertaken. That has only started and will look at extending the line more broadly to Navan. Of course it makes sense ultimately to extend the line to Navan, but the first part of the process is the line to Dunboyne and that will hopefully get underway.

I do not detect from the Taoiseach any level of urgency about the matter. He says it is a good idea, and we can all speak about good ideas. However, the Government is in place to act, particularly on its promises and manifesto. Will that happen with regard to the Navan line, not just as far as Dunboyne? CSO figures published last year showed Navan as the fastest-growing large town in the State between 1996 and 2001. Its population increased by 51.6%, which is almost 20,000 people, while overall State figures increased by 8%. In that regard, will the Taoiseach initiate the Navan project? Will he state it as the Navan line rather than phase one? Will he say it is the Navan line, and will it be delivered by 2010? This is what people need to know, given that they are investing, and will hopefully continue to invest, in Navan. They need to know if the service will be there.

The Taoiseach mentioned cost. A study by Iarnród Éireann showed the Maynooth to Clonsilla line cost €156 million. Road building will cost between €15 billion and €20 billion and will be announced sometime in March. Can we compare like with like and give a fair allocation to the rail programme so that the line will be built to Navan?

No Government has ever put as much money into transport infrastructure as we have.

The Government has invested in roads.

Over €1.2 billion has been invested in rail transport. The logical position is to build the line to Navan. The first stage is the Clonsilla to Dunboyne line. The studies have been done and completed, the Government is supportive of it and we want to get on with it. Some €31 billion has been allocated to the transport programme until 2009.

That is all for roads.

It is not all for roads. The Midleton line which helps over 100,000 commuters is going ahead and is well underway.

It is not underway.

I remind members of the Green Party that the Taoiseach is entitled to make his reply without interruption. If the Deputy has any respect for his leader, he will allow him to answer without interruption.

It is beyond Deputy Boyle's wildest dreams.

Deputy Boyle got upset when I said the Midleton line was underway. He obviously does not want it to be underway so he got upset at the reference. The feasibility study of the Navan line has commenced and hopefully we will get that back.

When did the Taoiseach last use the train?

Deputy Sargent might, on another occasion, tell me when we will also get the N3. His view is that we will have the rail line sooner than the N3.