Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. It is great to see chambers of commerce from areas near the N4 and N5 coming together and taking a proactive approach to this issue. As Senator O'Mahony stated, since we met the group in Buswells Hotel before Christmas, both he and I as well as other members of the committee have repeatedly raised the plight of businesses in the area and the need to invite a delegation to address the committee and make a strong and compelling case for the upgrade of the N4 and N5 roads. The witnesses made such a case this morning. While it would be great if the committee had the power to advance or sanction the project, unfortunately not the case. The witnesses have, however, given us the ammunition to make a compelling case to the Minister on this issue.

In recent years, investment in roads has been at an all time low. Despite rapid population growth, Ireland has the second lowest level of capital expenditure on infrastructure in Europe. Earlier this year, IBEC noted that between 90% and 95% of capital expenditure on roads is being spent on maintenance rather than building critical infrastructure. The time is right for the witnesses to make a case for this investment as the review of the capital expenditure programme is under way.

The witnesses referred to the three most important issues. We spoke at length in recent weeks about road safety. There is no doubt that as traffic on the N4 increased, the number of fatalities also increased. Last year, for the first time, progress made in reducing the number of fatalities was reversed. Sustainable regional development is also critical to the organisations represented today. As a previous speaker noted, when a company is considering making an investment in a region, infrastructure is always the first consideration. While the road to Mullingar is either motorway or dual carriageway, the further one travels west from Mullingar, the harder it becomes to attract investment. We, as public representatives, continually make a case for IDA Ireland to bring more companies to County Longford and the west. The State has a responsibility to develop the infrastructure needed to ensure the west is attractive as a location for inward investment.

On the issue of access to talent, we are fortunate to have institutes of technology in Athlone, Sligo and Letterkenny and a university in Maynooth. All these institutions are located along the M4-N4 corridor. A motorway or dual carriageway would open access to educational facilities and the Wild Atlantic Way.

The witnesses are pushing an open door as far as the committee is concerned. We will bring to bear whatever political pressure we can on the Minister to include this section of road in the review of the capital plan. Did the chambers of commerce make a formal submission to the review of the capital plan?

Reference was made to various sections of the road, including Mullingar to Longford and Longford to Rooskey. Is a specific section of the route considered a priority? The group is collaborative in nature and represents the entire north-west region. Does it have a preference as to which section of the route should be completed first? The route for the section of the M4 between Mullingar and Longford in my constituency has been identified. Has the route been identified beyond Longford?

We constantly hear about the limited capital envelope available for investment. I have pointed out to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, a number of times that the European Commission has established the European Fund for Strategic Investment, which is better known as the Juncker fund, under which €500 billion has been made available to all member states to borrow at very low interest rates for investment in much needed infrastructure. We should avail of this fund because we are not making enough use of it. Other countries with high levels of national debt, for example, Italy, are using it. Loans are made available provided the member state can demonstrate that the money will be invested in critical infrastructure.

I thank the witnesses again for making such a compelling case, which strengthens our position. Members will do everything in their power to bring pressure to bear on the relevant Minister.