Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to welcome the councillors from Cavan, Connemara and Meath. Unfortunately, it was too far for the councillors from the west Cork municipal district to make it here. I listened to Councillor Mannion speaking about roads, hospitals and schools. Her comments replicate the concerns of the west Cork municipal district. We have a serious situation with the N71, one of the main routes into west Cork, as there has been no investment whatsoever. The same applies to the R586.

It is a well known fact throughout west Cork that a businessman was willing to invest and provide employment in west Cork. He flew into Cork airport and went as far as Innishannon but turned back because of the bottleneck. He said it was impossible to do business in west Cork.

That is sad for us because we are very much dependent on tourism. I spent a number of years as a councillor and have now started my tenure in the Dáil. I would like to know who Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, is answerable to. I do not think it is answerable to councillors and it looks like it is not answerable to Dáil Deputies either, so is the TII a law unto itself? What is going on?

I specifically requested that TII representatives should attend the committee to provide us with answers. Then at least the councillors would leave here with some clarity as to what might or can be done. Rural Ireland has no trains, planes or Luas. We have been forgotten and there was a clear lack of understanding by previous governments of issues concerning rural Ireland.

I hope this committee, albeit in its infancy, can seek a way forward for these people and their communities. Their concerns are replicated throughout rural Ireland. If we can be of any help to the councillors, I can assure them that we will not be found wanting. The fact that municipal district representatives are here to put their case is proof that this committee wants their voices to be heard.

This committee should bring the TII to task on the issues that have been mentioned as well as issues raised by other municipal districts. We need answers. There is no point in our being elected to the Oireachtas if we cannot get answers for people.