Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I am happy to participate in this debate and to deal with issues which are of significant national importance and which concern the Department of Transport.

Yesterday I opened the Fermoy bypass which has been completed eight months ahead of schedule and under budget. This bypass will remove 17,000 vehicles each day from Fermoy town centre and will reduce journey times by up to 30 minutes. The Fermoy road opening is not an isolated event but rather is typical of what is happening on the national roads network, nationwide, on a weekly basis. This is known by all colleagues from all sides of the House because they all turn up, along with all their councillors, to welcome these projects which transform and have a significant impact on people's daily lives.

The Kilcock-Kinnegad motorway was delivered ten months ahead of schedule. The Dundalk bypass was also opened ahead of schedule. To date in 2006, nine projects have already been delivered on time and within budget. They include the Cavan bypass, the Enniscorthy-Clonroche realignment, the Ashbourne M50 bypass, the Ballyshannon-Bundoran bypass, the Edgeworthstown relief road, the Naas road widening, the Mitchelstown relief road and the Castleisland-Abbeyfeale project. All these projects are on budget and ahead of schedule. As can be seen from the spread, the projects being delivered affect every part of the country. It is not just roads that are being developed. The Luas project is a tremendous success and improvements to the DART and the intercity rail services are making a real difference to public transport.

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