Before the Taoiseach was elevated to such high office he used to commute on the train from time to time, as do I. If he did so today, he would understand the serious overcrowding issues on the northern commuter and DART line due to the chronic lack of capital investment in commuter rail services over the past six or seven years. Page 128 of the programme for Government contains a commitment to investing in public transport. What additional capital funds will the Taoiseach and the Government allocate to Irish Rail to improve the chronic situation in the greater Dublin area and particularly on the northern commuter-----

There is no DART service in our area.

No rail service either.

The Deputies will get nothing unless they stay quiet.

I am glad the Deputies to my left are interested in DART services in Dublin.

We are.

Deputies, please. Deputy Darragh O'Brien waited patiently for his turn.

It is a very serious issue. Just because it does not relate to Kerry does not mean it is not important. The Taoiseach is aware that it is a matter of great concern for many people. There is dangerous overcrowding. Our capital city is growing and we need investment in these services. I acknowledge that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, is not here but I ask the Taoiseach to commit to additional capital investment in rail infrastructure in the city and county of Dublin.

Is the Taoiseach in a position to answer?

I am. The chronic lack of investment in our infrastructure for six or seven years - possibly longer than that - occurred for a reason. It occurred as a consequence of the appalling mismanagement of Ireland's economy in the period before 2008-09. Because the economy is back on track, we have been able to invest in infrastructure again over the past two years. Project Ireland 2040 provides for considerable capital investment in Irish Rail to improve DART services and have them run every ten minutes and to extend the DART to Drogheda and Maynooth and along the Kildare line.

It is running every ten minutes now. That is the problem.

As is always the case with major capital investment, there is a lag time in delivery. Even when new carriages are ordered, it can take two to three years for them to come.