Pádraig Ó Céidigh (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Ray O'Leary and Mr. Michael Nolan for their presentations. I have two brief questions. Will they provide the committee with an outline of their overall strategy for investment in national, regional and local roads and how they will spend the very limited financial resources available? What is their thinking and assessment model for doing that? That is my first question on their assessment criteria.

My second question follows on from a very good point made by my colleague, Deputy Catherine Murphy. Finance was never as cheap as it is now. It is time for us to consider borrowing again now that we have such low interest rates. What opportunities are there, through the EU mechanisms, to raise finance for this urgent and important infrastructural need? We appear to be contributing to creating a hard Border under Brexit rather than anything else. That is through no fault of anybody around this table, rather it is because we do not have the resources for it. Therefore, we need to expand our resources. My first question relates to how are we utilising our existing resources. How do the witnesses assess and decide what money goes where? My second question relates to securing extra financing and funding. I have one further question. It relates to the bypass or the ring road around Galway. If the witnesses have any up-to-date information on that, I would appreciate it.