Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I ask that TII give as much support to that project as possible. There are others, which Mr. Walsh has mentioned, on which I welcome progress. The Lakelands one is among these. However, this one is the jewel in the crown in pulling all of that together. It is along the Boyne from Drogheda to Navan in the first instance. It really is something we would like to see progress on. I thank the witnesses for that information.

I have two minutes left. On tolling, the PPP scheme on the M3 from Clonee to Kells is one of two that included provision for variable operation payments, VOPs, which is to say that the State had to make up any shortfall. There are two tolls on that road. Based on what the witnesses have said about Project BRUCE, it may have been ahead of its time but it certainly does not feel like a benefit for those people who have to travel from Kells or north of Kells to south County Dublin on a daily basis. To echo the point made by Senator Doherty, there really is a perception that it is a burden and that this is a cost that has shifted from the State to the commuter to allow the road to wash its face. When people see the profits being reported and hear about increases, index linking, guaranteed income and the possibility of indefinite duration, it really does leave them with a sour taste. How is a decision made to put two tolls, or indeed any toll, on a road? What type of cost-benefit analysis or critical assessment of alternative options for these projects is carried out? To some degree, I suppose that opportunity has passed but what are the options for further major roads projects as regards PPPs and direct State investment? Do the witnesses have any reflections or opinions on that?