Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

One area of the correspondence I am concerned about is the forecasted costs for completion of the projects under the national development plan. TII has indicated various reasons as to why it is difficult to give estimates but the cost ranges that have been provided are quite broad. That is being generous.

Prices range from €250 million to 1 €billion, which is as broad as one can get. Another project has a cost range of between €1 billion and €3 billion, which again is very unspecific and makes it very difficult, I would argue, to plan accordingly for what are considered essential infrastructure projects.

During the discussion with TII, it will be recalled I asked the question as to whether a political intervention could reverse the decisions in regard to funding allocations for this year. In fairness, TII was quite honest about it and indicated that this would be the case. Since then, some of the projects that had been denied funding this year have had that funding restored. Unfortunately, the specific case I raised regarding the N2 Clontibret to the Border road scheme has not been included among those projects, which is disappointing because this is a vital infrastructural project. It services and goes through my county, but it is essential for the economic and regionally balanced development of the central Border region and the broader north west. It has been part of numerous discussions and negotiations on the peace process and it has formed part of several key Government policy initiatives, including the national development plan as well as Our Rural Future and a number of others.

The timeframe given for the completion of this project is now set at 2033. I ask that we write to TII to get a detailed breakdown of the phases from now to completion, the dates by which those phases are expected to be met, considering the next stage has essentially been stalled, and if the TII could be more specific in terms of the estimated costs of each of those phases. As well as the infrastructural need for this project, there is also the other issue that hundreds of landowners and communities are essentially sterilised because this projected route has been earmarked. If we are saying to them they cannot develop until 2033, that is something of great concern. I ask we write in regard to that specific project, if that is in order.

The former CEO of TII was paid in excess of €29,000 in accrued leave, representing 41 days. Assuming the holiday year runs from April to March, even accounting for no holidays taken since the onset of the pandemic, it seems to be a large amount of accrued leave and would be out of line with holiday pay policy in most places of employment. Will the Comptroller and Auditor General comment on that or should we seek guidance or clarification from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in that regard?