Commuters woke up this morning to the news that Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, is considering putting up tolls on the Dublin Port Tunnel. It recommended an increase from €13 to €14 and said it was modest. On what planet is a €14 toll modest? We are told that the increase is to stop congestion. Why is it that when it comes to congestion the only tool in the Government's toolbox is a stick - a toll hike to beat people off the road? What about providing more public transport? This year, the Government will provide no new net public transport capacity. Projects such as the Navan to Dublin rail line and MetroLink are proceeding at a glacial pace. The Government operates in slow motion when it comes to infrastructure. Both these projects have been discussed for decades and neither are likely to happen in the next ten years. Will the Government make a commitment to stop the increase in tolls? Will it commit to stop punishing commuters and start to provide the public transport capacity that is needed?

There has been huge investment in public sector transport. On rail, very good progress has been made on the Navan rail line over the past number of years in terms of funding provision. I do not operate every State agency. State agencies are legislated for in this House and are charged with responsibility to do things. The issue of congestion is a broader one. In terms of the specifics of the tunnel, it is not an area that seems overly congested at times. That is a matter I will take up with the Minister and will raise with TII more generally as to its strategy and whether it will be effective in this case.