Dail Report: Taoiseach Bertie Ahern strongly defended the Government's transport plan in the face of Opposition criticism.
Fine Gael's finance spokesman Richard Bruton said the plan consisted of four speeches, three maps, two lists and one repackaged transport plan designed to get the Government's neck off the line.
"Maps were produced that were virtually identical to those produced previously," he added. "A total of 35 of the 40 projects were announced previously. Every householder will be asked to pay €25,000 through taxes or road tolls, but they were not given any detailed costings, evaluations of the key items of prioritisation of projects based on the rates of return."
Mr Ahern insisted that the plan had been costed. "If one examines the 19 of the last 22 projects that have come in on time and budget, which include the Border Dundalk route, the Ashbourne bypass, the Edgeworthstown relief road, the Monaghan town bypass, the Kinnegad to Kilbeggan route, the Loughrea bypass, the Naas road upgrade, the Fermoy to Watergrasshill road, the Mitchelstown relief road, the Bundoran to Ballyshannon, Ennis bypass, the Castleisland to Abbeyfeale road, and developments in Farranfore, Kinsale and Enniscorthy have all been on time and on budget," he added. "They have all come in on time and on budget. I know the Opposition hates that."
Mr Ahern said that the same estimation procedure, which had brought in 19 of the last 22 projects on budget, had been used.
"Projections for where projects will come in during each of the next 10 years have been made, based on the estimates of CIÉ, Iarnród Éireann, Dublin Bus and the NRA," he added.
Mr Ahern said that if the outline and detail of the projects and the cost estimates were published, it would make that information available commercially to everyone who tendered.
Accusing the Taoiseach of engaging in an "elaborate sham", Mr Bruton said that the National Development Plan was published in 2000.
"It was to cost €8 billion. Twelve months before the end of that plan, we see that half of the projects will not be completed on time, and the cost will be three times what was originally stated," he added.
"The public is asking how can it have more confidence in this plan than in the previous one, when the Government and the Taoiseach are not willing to give any open evaluation or costing to justify the cost of €25,000 per household and show it will yield value for money."
Mr Ahern said that a costing criteria had been set out by Minister for Finance Brian Cowen. "I do not accept any of the points made by the deputy," he added.
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said he would like to see the costings of the superior plan for a metro system to Dublin airport, as compared to a spur line to the railway or Dart system.
He described Tuesday's announcement by the Government as "a media event and a stunt", adding that the Taoiseach was making a bad job in defending it.
Mr Ahern said the plan was the result of due diligence and the full costing of the agencies to enable the Department of Finance to properly cost it as a proper national plan. "I hope this will be sufficient to deal with it over the years," he added.
