Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the delegates. I raise an issue specific to County Meath and Meath north in particular, namely, the proposed Slane bypass, which has been ongoing for a number of years and is now at a crucial stage. Several deaths have occurred on roads in Slane, the most recent of which was last December. I thank the delegates for the work done to date. They have met the bypass group on countless occasions, the Minister and before that my father also. I understand the NRA will this week select a consultant who will put together the management plan, taking into account the report produced on foot of the Minister's request. Where do the delegates wish to see this go? Specifically, is there a timeframe in which they would like the management plan to be drawn up? Who will be the consultant?

Mr. Barry can correct me if I am wrong, but I understand the NRA can make an application for a road project. Is this something it has examined? Would it consider making the application for the bypass? The project has been refused permission previously and a second refusal would be detrimental to the project, but having the NRA behind us would lend stronger support.