Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Nine of the 12 projects are in the west. It was a positive decision to do that. As the Deputy knows, we have difficulties on a few of the other major projects we wanted to start because of environmental issues but rather than arguing about them we will invest moneys in other areas. That is the plan. The ten-year programme certainly allows us to make progress.

As we finish some major road projects on the east coast, €1.4 billion is being spent on infrastructural resources for roads this year alone. As everyone can see, therefore, a huge investment is being made in this catch-up phase.

We have now outlined what roads are to be completed this year, which will be started, which are in the final stages of tendering and which are at the planning and development phase, including compulsory purchase orders. I admit it has taken a few years to get to this stage. I have chaired the relevant committee and it has not always been easy to bring order to the process. However, there is now a clear structure within the Departments, the National Roads Authority and the local authorities. The planning process has been outlined in an ordered way right up to 2015.

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