Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The question is in the context of that. We have been pressurised and we have made representations for the prioritisation of the N16. Can Mr. Barry outline the status of the N16? When the first national needs study was published in the late 1990s, the development was pushed back to 2018 or 2020. It has bounced around over the past number of years and is of great concern to local people, local representatives and business people. From a business perspective, if the road was to be developed as a dual carriageway, it would be a direct link to Galway, Sligo and Enniskillen and into the North.

Mr. Barry referred to the fact that local maintenance is carried out. Can he indicate the tendering process on an annual basis and the renewal process? Does one company or several companies operate it and does the NRA put it out to tender? I must declare an interest because my brother-in-law operates in this area in Tullamore, County Offaly. He has recently developed a more efficient machine for the renewal and rolling out of pavements. Is Mr. Barry aware of this? How does the process work?