Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Why, then, do we not do more of it? I can think of several examples of potential projects in this regard. For example, the road surfaces in this city, to a large extent, are some of the worst I have ever seen. A classic example is manhole covers. Very often, these are an inch to two inches below the level of the road surface. I cannot understand how this situation is allowed to continue but it does. Anybody who has a bad back, like I happen to have, will get a jolt every time you cross over one of those manhole covers in your car, which is not good for the back or for any disc condition at all. What I cannot understand, therefore, is why there should not be an evaluation done of the city's road surfaces with a view to identifying those most objectionable.

I know motorists are not wanted anywhere anymore, in the city, in the country or anywhere at all according to our reports, but we cannot, at the same time, live without them. If we do not want motorists to be coming into the city to spend their money, keeping the road surfaces in a really poor condition will discourage them from coming into the city forevermore. Perhaps this is the intention. I do not know. I do not think it is a good idea, however, and I do not think it is a good long-term plan. Anyone who has a direct link-in with the city fathers might whisper into their ears that some of us do not exactly like the way road surfaces are left in this city. I will not go into this subject any more than that.

I think we should look at those projects that have progressed satisfactorily and identify how best the value to the State and the Exchequer was realised. This can be done by looking at what was done on time and within budget, or without the budget, as the case may be. An endeavour of this type would let us know what examples we might be able to look to and use in the future to promote this PPP concept.