Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

——no decision made on those issues and no scheme has been presented.

Yesterday saw the beginning of the upgrade of the M50, which is a phased project involving about €1 billion. The first phase will cost approximately €250 million. By the commencement of the second phase, we would like to see the toll plaza replaced by electronic tolling. In fact, we would like to see that done more quickly. I am not sufficiently technically knowledgeable in this area to know why it takes the period stated but that is the view of the experts. I and the Ministers must accept their advice that it will take two years.

Obviously, all the other issues in Transport 21 will come into play over a period. There is a problem in the interregnum and there is no doubt about that. However, discussions are ongoing about the traffic plan that will have to be completed over the next few months and about how quickly alternative arrangements can be put in place. No decision has been made by the Minister or the NRA——

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