It is good to see further debate on vacancy and dereliction. The Labour Party had a motion on it in the Seanad last night.

I wish to focus on transport, specifically the lack of funding and the systemic issues with have with our infrastructure with respect to both capacity and the supply of services. We have packed buses, packed train carriages, chronic delays and congestion and poor driver behaviour on the road as a result. This crisis is felt countrywide. I experience it and see it every day of the week, living in and representing a commuter constituency in Dublin. Since the return of full-capacity public transport routes after Covid-19 we have seen growing demand for public transport, but the Government is failing those who want to choose the sustainable option. The NTA's statistics show us that in September alone there was 10% growth in the number of people using bus services, which went from 800,000 to 900,000. The public are clamouring for green, climate-friendly and affordable transport routes. One of the key drivers for Ireland to achieve our climate targets will be how we can implement a comprehensive public transport system not just in Dublin and Cork, but across the entire country. We have heard in the past weeks statements from the RSA about how many people in rural Ireland are being pushed to learn to drive not just because they want to but because they have no other option. This Government is failing to deliver on transport infrastructure and this has resulted in people in rural Ireland knowing that if they want to go to work, socialise or do something as simple as going to their nearest shop they need to have a car, as there is no public transport option.

It is deeply concerning to me that when we have finally got to a stage where the plans are there to provide big transport infrastructure, we heard from Anne Graham, chief executive of the NTA, on Tuesday of increasing delays due to a huge hole in the transport infrastructure budget caused by inflation. For example, she said the real value of the active travel programme has been reduced in real terms from €290 million to €190 million. Meanwhile, Exchequer figures to the end of October also show the Department of Transport has failed to spend €209 million in approved capital expenditure, so the budget committed for projects has not kept pace with inflation and the pressures of our growing population and economy, while the Department is not spending the money it already has. The Government is dragging its heels on delivering the type of transport infrastructure projects we need by failing to commit enough spending and the hole in the accounts will build year on year if this is not addressed. It will affect critical transport projects such as MetroLink, which my constituents have been waiting decades for, not to mention the millions of passengers using Dublin Airport. It will also affect a Luas for Cork and BusConnects.

Will the Government admit there is now simply not enough long-term funding for transport projects in the current national development plan? What plans are there to account for inflation so projects will not be needlessly killed off in favour of adding another few million euro to the Minister's rainy day fund? What is the Government doing about this and will the Minister now commit there will not be any further delays to MetroLink, BusConnects or the many active travel projects across the country waiting for spending commitments?

I thank Deputy Smith for raising these important transport issues. I am happy to defend the Government's record on investment in all forms of transport across the country over the last number of years. That is evident for anyone to see when looking at the investment in active travel, the expansion of public transport services and the investment in our road network to name a few examples. In the budget we provided an overall allocation to the Department of Transport of over €3.5 billion to provide vital services to the public across next year. That represents an increase of €90 million on gross expenditure levels in 2023. The Deputy will be well aware of what the Government has done so far with the 20% reduction in average public transport fares and the 50% reduction for younger people. In the recent budget we have expanded the eligibility cohort that will be in a position to avail of that. That has resulted in a very significant increase in the number of people using our public transport services, and that is a good thing. It shows that where services are provided and fares are reasonable the public will respond because they want to be able to avail of a good-quality, efficient service and get away from the gridlock we have seen and continue to see on some of our road networks. We are investing €360 million a year in active travel and I think all of us as constituency Teachtaí Dála have seen examples of fantastic greenway projects, improved pedestrian facilities, cycling facilities and infrastructure in our communities which have given a huge tourism boost as well and enhanced the leisure amenities available in communities throughout the country.

We are fully committed to a wide range of major public capital transport projects. Many of them are going through the approval process in the planning system. We await the outcome of that, but the Government has signalled its full commitment to the implementation of those projects, because our population is growing and our economy is growing. The need is clear and we need to invest further in public transport in Dublin and indeed around the country in the form of sustainable transport corridors, the BusConnects project, the major MetroLink project and the DART projects we have. The Government is committed to them.

We have made the decision, as the Deputy will be aware, to increase the overall public capital programme using some of the windfall corporation tax receipts of €2.25 billion. One of the funds we are going to set up provides for a dedicated infrastructure, climate and nature fund whereby over €3 billion of additional funding is earmarked for projects, including public transport, that will help us achieve our emissions reduction targets. We are fully committed to implementing the ambitious plans we have for public transport.

The fare reduction is welcome and we need to see more, but it is useless if the public transport does not exist or is bringing people on a route that is already congested so they are missing buses or being left behind. Giving increased funding to the Department of Transport when it is not spending the money it already has is more or less pointless. It is not just us saying this, as the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has warned capital spending will need to be on average €2.7 billion higher than it is now from 2024 to 2030. The Minister mentioned the infrastructure, climate and nature fund. Is it going to be like a bailout fund for these infrastructure projects? It is not going to be drawn down until after 2026 either, so there is a massive incongruity to the Government's entire transport capital project plan.

The Minister says the Government is committed to MetroLink. Is it going to commit the funding to deliver MetroLink, the funding to deliver BusConnects and the funding to deliver the Luas connections in Dublin and Cork?

The answer is, yes we are. We stand behind the public transport projects that are a fundamental part of the NDP that I prepared on behalf of the Government and got the approval of the Government for.

That sets out a plan worth €160 billion to the end of the decade. Of course, we acknowledge the impact of inflation in recent years. The Deputy is right to highlight that. We have all seen the inflation in tender prices and we are well aware of the impact of the war in Ukraine on inflation in the cost of construction materials. That has had an impact. We are seeing that working through in some of the tender prices coming in. That is why the Government has made the decision to allocate additional funding, using some of the windfall corporation tax receipts, to ensure we fully stand behind our national development plan objectives and priorities. The infrastructure, climate and nature fund will provide real funding for projects once they come through the statutory planning process. The Government is fully committed to the projects the Deputy has highlighted and looks forward to implementing them as soon as they are fully approved and have gone through the necessary procurement processes.