There is a commitment on page 127 of the programme for Government to fund additional capacity to meet commuter needs. Yesterday we saw the latest development in the crisis in rail capacity, with Irish Rail asking people to stagger their journeys, to talk to their employers and arrange different working hours. Is this the sum total of Government policy to tackle this crisis?

I wrote to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, at the end of August about this matter. One of his staff wrote back stating: "The operation and provision of services on the rail network are matters for Iarnród Éireann and the National Transport Authority." He is not here today. While I appreciate that it is a very busy and demanding schedule to try to compete with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, Deputy Bruton, to launch car charging facilities that are not yet in operation in Marlay Park, will the Minister for Finance to clarify what does the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, see as his role if it is not to do with rail capacity and implementing the programme for Government? What is the Government going to do in the here and now to cater for the commuting misery being suffered by many all over this country not just in commuting to the major cities but also inter-city?

As a former Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I can say that Deputy Ross's role is to make sure he can secure the kind of resources needed to ensure that our public transport system can grow and that the capacity of public transport can grow. I take the Deputy's point that there are few things more frustrating than standing at a bus stop and seeing a bus go by that is full or not being able to board a train that is full. I know, however, from my engagement with the Minister that the funding going into public transport is growing and that is due to the efforts of him and his Department. Projects such as the rail centre, the national signal centre that the Minister recently had approved by Cabinet, are needed to increase capacity on public transport and to deal with the needs of commuters that have been highlighted by the Deputy.