Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I raise this issue as it is hard to over-estimate its importance to the town of Tullamore and County Offaly in general. The issue concerns the Tullamore bypass and the fact that after the much-heralded launch of Transport 21, the bypass was not included in the list of works to commence. Of equal concern is that projects to be carried out after 2010 must be subject to NRA approval. Effectively, the Government, in its remit of deciding policy, decided that the routes out of Dublin were a priority but did not deem a bypass for Tullamore important enough to merit a mention or a commencement date.

A bypass for Tullamore was first mooted 25 years ago. In 2001 detailed plans were drawn up in this regard. I was a member of Offaly County Council in that year and noted that hard decisions were taken on route selection. A route was chosen and the matter progressed to oral hearings and confirmation. At a recent meeting, Tullamore Town Council was informed that work might not start until 2009. The announcement of Transport 21 has lead to fears that the date might be delayed even further. The NRA has since said that no decision has been taken on a starting date for the bypass. It is prioritising the national primary routes and has said it will examine the rest of the network afterwards. I can only question the Minister on the reason for this unacceptable delay.

Tullamore is in a relatively central position and is but a few kilometres from the N6. It is vital to have a proper dual carriageway connection from the new M6 to the bypass. It will link the new M6 to the M7 and M8 when they are completed and will serve as a connecting route for various national secondary roads.

Tullamore is a designated national hub under the national spatial strategy, in addition to Athlone and Mullingar. It is the capital of County Offaly and is literally choking with the traffic passing through. At 5.15 p.m. last Friday, AA Roadwatch announced that traffic was crawling in Tullamore. That is only the beginning of the supposed rush hour, yet traffic was crawling. Even larger urban areas in the country were not in such a state so early on Friday evening.

Tullamore is a vibrant town and is anxious to attract new industry, grow and prosper, but Government inaction is standing in the way. The Minister will be aware of the importance of having proper routes to a town if industry is to be attracted. A bypass is the most vital infrastructure required by Tullamore. Edenderry and Birr are also awaiting bypasses. What hope have they if the Minister does not move on this one?

Complaints about the delay are coming not only from local people who are desperately frustrated at the delays and the havoc they wreak in their daily lives, unnecessary delays also occur on the school journey, travelling into town for groceries or business and transporting and delivering goods. Complaints are also coming from people who travel through the town from other counties, which is a particular concern for the future of the hub under the national spatial strategy. It is now 25 years since the first mention of a bypass, yet we are told about topographical, geographical and archaeological surveys and the preparation of contract documents. I accept that the process must be undertaken properly but members of Tullamore Town Council have repeatedly highlighted this issue. I join them in recommending that the road, when it is built, should be upgraded to a dual carriageway.

It is a design and build project, with the design being undertaken by contractors. Surely this can begin and the entire process, including the surveys, can be undertaken by the team that will undertake the design and build. I do not know why this cannot be done. Offaly County Council claims that the bypass could begin in 2007, if there are no delays. "Could" is not good enough. The people of Tullamore and Offaly deserve better. They need a definite date and want to know when real funding, not the pittance given so far, will become available.

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment will reply on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I ask him to ask the Minister for Transport to meet Offaly County Council, Tullamore Town Council and Tullamore Chamber of Commerce. There is no more important issue facing the county at this time. The fear that Tullamore will be left behind is a genuine concern of mine as a public representative but also of the people of the town and county. If we do not move on this matter without delay, Tullamore will be left behind.

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