Mr. Michael Nolan:

I presume the Deputy is looking at the graphic on page 23. That is probably depressing viewing at the moment. However, we are working closely with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport on contributing to the mid-term review of the capital investment plan. One of the challenges that we have is the low level of schemes being prepared and going through the preparation pool to have them ready for any subsequent capital investment plan. The Department is conscious of that. They are working closely with us. We have submitted a list of schemes that we think could go forward. They are high value schemes with a lot of benefits such as closing gaps on the network. If we could get three or five years funding we would have them ready for any subsequent capital investment plan and then have them ready for construction.

At the moment, we only have two schemes ready to go to An Bord Pleanála at the moment, subject to getting approval for the business case. Those are the Listowel bypass and a scheme on the N5 between Scramogue and the Ballaghaderreen bypass. We have a number of schemes listed in the capital investment plan that are going through the planning phase. Those are the Galway city transport project and ring road, the N28 Cork to Ringaskiddy road, the N29 Limerick to Foynes road, the Slane bypass and the Mallow inner relief road. There are a few schemes outside that which were prepared before the capital investment plan was published. Beyond that, we have very little activity in preparing schemes to go to An Bord Pleanála. That is the focus of our submission to the Department on the mid-term review. We are hoping that flat line going to 2025 will never materialise.