Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

To what extent do health and safety policies and practices, signage, etc., contribute to the cost of projects? Will Mr. Barry provide a percentage figure in this regard? Has the NRA calculated the amount of money which comes back to the Government in VAT returns, etc.?

The second matter about which I am concerned relates to the NRA's role in the tendering process for road improvements or realignments. What discretion does the authority have in this regard? My specific concern is that companies from outside the jurisdiction, workers of which are paid less than their counterparts in this country, would be at a competitive advantage vis-à-vis Irish companies. Is the NRA allowed to take into account as part of the process of awarding contracts the need to retain existing jobs and create new ones in this country? How does Ireland's cost per kilometre for realignment compare with that in other EU countries? To what extent has this cost either decreased or increased since 2009?

As Senator Paschal Mooney predicted, I very much welcome the work on the N4 between Collooney and Cloonamahon. There are 30 white crosses at various locations along the side of that road and we never want to see a 31st being erected. The N16-A4 route is a national disgrace. Successive Governments have promised to take action on this road which runs from Belfast to Sligo and Galway and is completely not fit for purpose. I understand special EU funding is available for cross-border routes under the TEN-T programme. Such funding would allow the authorities in the Six Counties to bypass Enniskillen and it could also be spent on upgrading the N16. However, the NRA's website indicates that the N16 Glenfarne to Blacklion and Glenfarne to Glencar realignments and the Sligo to Glencar project have been suspended. I am at a loss to understand what is happening in this regard. The previous Government, which held two of the three seats in the constituency, one of which was occupied by a Minister of State, promised that these projects would proceed. The position is the same with the current Administration, which also holds two of the seats in the constituency and, again, one of them is occupied by a Minister of State. However, no one seems to be taking the N16 project seriously. That is simply not good enough because the route is a national disgrace. I probably should be criticising the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in this matter as opposed to anyone else. Unfortunately, as he is not present, Mr. Barry must be the subject of my ire. If the criteria relating to this matter include traffic flows and the cost multiplied by the number of deaths and accidents, it is logical that traffic travelling from Belfast to Sligo will use a longer but better route. The self-fulfilling prophecy in this context is that if that happens, the N16-A4 will just disappear off the map altogether. That would be neither right nor just.