James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests for the answers they have given so far. I want to ask something quite interesting. It is a matter of importance to all of us whether it is for public transport projects or road projects and Ms Graham and Mr. Walsh, or any of the members of the teams who are accompanying them, may wish to comment. I would like to get their feedback. In 2013, a new set of rules was introduced around the public spending code, including new feasibility studies and different mechanisms in order to judge the value of whether projects should be funded. I feel that in some cases projects are a little more clearcut, including lower-value projects such as those in Castlemartyr and Killeagh where the cost falls below €100 million. I am thinking of smaller-scale road projects. How much time does it generally take from the proposition of a project to its getting through the public spending code process? Perhaps Mr. Walsh could answer that as it applies to road projects. He might leave some time for an answer from Ms Graham and I would not mind coming back in too.