Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the comments of the Minister on greenways. I have felt very strongly about the issue for a long time. We are trying to get a number of projects over the line in Kerry. When the Government is finished in Louth, the Minister is welcome to come to south Kerry when, it is to be hoped, the south Kerry greenway will be up and running

Would the Department consider a programme for greenways? Greenways are expensive from the initial planning stage to delivery, as there are access issues, purchase orders and bureaucratic red tape. I have spotted another option. We have a major network of tertiary and local roads, and the maintenance of these roads is seen as a burden on the State. May I suggest that local authorities be invited to put together an engineering proposal to identify how one would get from A to B using these roads and thereby create priority cycle routes using existing quiet country roads that are rarely used? One might need funding to take away some sharp bend or junction where sight distance needs to be improved, improve road surfaces and reduce speed limits to 50 km/h. This would be a way of delivering an amenity at a much lower cost than greenways and would turn what is traditionally seen as a negative into an opportunity.

In respect of the capital plan, I concur with Deputy O'Keeffe's remarks about the M20, connecting the two main cities of the south, Cork and Limerick. I would like to see the capital plan reviewed earlier, if possible. The upgrading of the N22 Ballyvourney-Macroom road has been announced in the capital plan. Is this seen as a priority project, given how far the proposal has come in terms of being almost shovel-ready?

In the early 1970s there were more than 600 road fatalities per annum, a shocking figure. At the time, certain safety measures would have been viewed as culturally unacceptable, but today it is seems incredible that these measures were not in place at that time. Similarly, I do not think we can be too draconian when it comes to road safety. Are we working with our European colleagues to push new technology such as alco-locks and GPS speed monitoring technology? The use of this technology might be viewed as a bit over the top at present, but could be seen as the norm in 15 to 20 years. Are we keeping the use of this technology on the agenda?

I know the Minister cannot intervene in the insurance market, but the cost of insurance is crippling so many motorists. There are shocking examples of the cost of insuring vehicles that are ten years or older. It has come to my attention that returning emigrants get no credit for their driving experience abroad, and their insurance cover is very expensive as they cannot avail of a no-claims bonus. It is no way to treat returning emigrants, particularly those who were forced to leave because of the economic catastrophe. They are now being punished on the double. Could the Minister, together with the Minister for Finance, engage with the insurance industry to try to achieve progress in reducing costs?

Farmers may have to cross roads to get their animals from one part to another part of the farm. The cost of constructing an underpass on regional and national secondary roads is significant. I wonder whether the Departments of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Environment, Community and Local Government and Agriculture, Food and the Marine could co-fund, with each Department putting up 25% and the farmer putting up 25%, so that what is an unaffordable €40,000 project would become an affordable €10,000 project. It is a pro-road-safety measure. It makes it easier for the farmer to put the infrastructure in place, and everybody benefits. It would be a stimulus to construction. Would the Minister consider such a proposal?

The number of wheelchair-accessible vehicles, particularly taxis, is very low. I know the NTA has set long-term targets for 100% compliance by 2040. At present there needs to be greater incentives for taxis to retrofit their vehicles. In Killorglin, County Kerry, a wheelchair user cannot get a taxi, and I know a man who is housebound during the winter months. Even in a town the size of Killarney I know of a person who finds it incredibly difficult just to get out of his house because of the lack of availability of suitable transport.

"Prime Time" raised the issue of devices to regulate diesel emissions. Members may have come across it. Will efforts be made to tackle this in forthcoming legislation?