Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is fair to say that TII has the expertise, skill set and people. There is a level of frustration among the members of this committee and, indeed, some of the non-members who are joining us. I am sure TII would love to be doing things more quickly. I was on a local authority when Carrickmines Castle was a problem in the context of the M50. Two of the four MEPs in Dublin at the time were objecting to the M50 being built. In the end, only a perimeter wall of the potential site of a castle was ever found. I do not think anyone ever found the castle, but they might have found the perimeter wall of a castle. The motorway is now being used. I do not know how long it took but there was a very long delay in the middle of that time. This is the real-life impact. At one stage, the road went to Templeogue and then it went to Ballinteer. When it went to Sandyford there were people streaming down into Dundrum and back up again because the road was not finished. When it opened, it was life-changing and transformational for many people. It took an hour to get from Goatstown to Rathfarnham in the 1990s. That journey now takes six or seven minutes. Even at the bad times on the M50, it takes 15 minutes. People may not remember how bad it was before the M50 opened. In addition, bypasses improve road safety and quality of life for drivers, but also for the towns. Some people are against all roads, but they should realise that some roads are good. Not every road is needed, but many roads improve everybody's existence, as well as road safety, which is a significant concern for everybody, particularly members of this committee.