Under the programme for Government, major infrastructure projects such as metro north and DART+ form a central part of the transport element of the national development plan. The Tánaiste just said he did not know where we are with this and whether there would be delays.

The Mail on Sunday said that this was brought to Cabinet in July. If so, I wonder how the Tánaiste came up with the idea that he did not hear about it? Can he confirm that the project is going to be extended out from 2027 to 2032? This is a kick in the teeth to an awful lot of people. I have been involved in a great deal of consultation on this project. If the reports are true, it is going to be kicked down the road again. This will be a major disaster, not just for the people on the ground but also for businesses and house-building projects. It will have a hugely detrimental effect on house building in these areas.

I thank the Deputy. As I indicated to Deputy McAuliffe earlier, if there was a Government decision to defer or postpone the MetroLink project I would know about it. There has not been. We will have a new national development plan agreed in early October and that will answer the question in respect of major infrastructural projects. I do want to say, however, that we need to take these things one step at a time. There is not yet even a railway order for this project.

I understand that.

We do not know the route and we do not know the stations. It has not gone to tender.

The consultations have finished.

This is going to take years to get started let alone complete.