Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask about maintenance funds for our existing national road network - our primary, national secondary and regional routes, as well as the tertiary and local rural roads. I am disappointed that the Killarney to Farranfore route has been omitted from the capital plan. Is it possible to have this route added to the capital plan at this late stage? The gridlock in Killarney is well known and has an impact on tourism as well as on commuters who are trying to access other areas in the county. It is very detrimental to the local economy. There is only one way of addressing the significant bottleneck resulting from the uplift in the economy, with increasing traffic and heavier vehicles using that particular route between Killarney and Tralee. I am most disappointed with this omission, because the groundwork has been done and the project is shovel-ready. The plans were put on display in Killarney for public consultation some 15 years ago, and we were very optimistic that this would proceed within four to five years. With the downward trend and collapse of the economy it was put on the back burner. That project should be examined as a matter of urgency. I ask the Minister, who has responsibility for tourism as well as transport, to go back to the Cabinet to have this project included, because of the significant investment in preparations for the project.

The development of the Wild Atlantic Way has increased visitor numbers and generated additional moneys. I wonder if a proportion of the additional revenue generated from the Wild Atlantic Way will be used to improve the infrastructure and the community facilities on this route. That is only right and fitting. There is also a need to consider the omission of panoramic scenic roads on the seashore, such as the road from Tralee to Clochán on the Dingle peninsula. Deputy Brendan Griffin was very involved with the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, in having the Clochán peninsula included. Such deficiencies need to be corrected. This should be put right over the next couple of years. For many of the communities along the route tourism is a new concept, as in the past their areas were not marketed. Now, with the major influx of tourists, services need to be expanded. There is a need for community groups to get together to service the influx - for example, by providing parking areas for camper vans.

The old country pubs are a major part of the culture and tourism product. We need to look at pubs that are in danger of closing because their owners are finding it difficult to sustain them. We also need to look at the internal transport system, as many remote areas need to have better access to transport. I raised the issue of hackney licences with the Minister last week, as people are finding it difficult to get a hackney licences.

The IFA raised issues arising from the abolition of the milk quota and the impact it will have on rural roads, with the transport of milk from the farm gate to the co-operative in heavier tankers. Rural roads on the western seaboard are deteriorating due to adverse weather conditions, with some areas getting twice the rainfall that Dublin gets.

On the N72, which is gateway from Cork to Killarney, there are a number of acute bends near the railway bridges at Rathmore. The National Roads Authority, in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann, needs to straighten out the road at these railway passings.

Deputy Griffin and I are very much aware of-----