Mr. Eamonn Stapleton:

The Deputy is right to recognise that there are opportunities for the recycling of surfacing materials, which has been ongoing for quite a while. Recently, the amount of recycled materials that could be incorporated into new Macadams was increased, so there are improvements there. The problem with the climate impact of full new road construction is probably deeper than that. There is obviously the issue to which Ms Jammet referred, which is that waste materials are transported but other materials are re-imported to create a road. Both of these result in significant transport issues, which is when significant emissions arise. The materials themselves by their nature may not be the issue but it is a matter of their transport. The opportunity to improve emissions there probably lies with the design element of it. Yet, as the Deputy knows, when it comes to construction, there is very little time to influence that. Also, one is in a commercial situation, so it is not as easy. The opportunity is ultimately for the clients to look at their designs and come up with the most efficient solution with the least impact on the climate. The surfacing suppliers are working very hard on improving their own material designs so that they can incorporate recycled materials.