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

There is a need for the Department to ensure the NTA has an appraisal of these projects. It has a real impact. This project had €6 million allocated and a 100% overrun in terms of time. I expect it is a 100% overrun in budget as well, and maybe more. It was to be one element of a network of developments. What does the Minister imagine the response will be if the local authority comes back for the next leg of the development? People do not want to see sight nor sound of it. That is the reality, because of the negative experience. There is a need to put a framework in place to ensure these projects are monitored and evaluated, and that local authorities, and particularly developers, are held to account in this regard. There also needs to be consideration of the wider implications of such disruption in areas. I regularly meet with businesses. They say there is an impact on their incomes because of the disruption. This issue has been raised in Ashbourne and in Navan, in my own county. Is there some accommodation that can be made for loss of revenue or to properly understand the impact of delays in projects like this, and the impact they have on consumer behaviour or shoppers' habits to ensure that local businesses are not impacted? Some businesses would associate the ongoing works with significant loss in income and the potential impact on jobs and the viability of businesses. That is not something that anybody wants to see, and it needs to be factored into it. I encourage oversight of these projects. We will continue asking questions on the Ashbourne project. I have concerns about the delays with it, but also what I am sure are the associated cost overruns. I do not think that serves anybody well. We need to see these projects delivered and delivered well.