Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Andrew Doyle for sharing time and I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Terry Killeen, to the House.

I am glad of the opportunity to contribute to this debate. All of us, particularly in the west, are conscious that we are only now starting to initiate major projects as regards infrastructure. Expenditure over the past ten years in the BMW areas relative to Dublin and Leinster clearly reflects the imbalance in the delivery of major infrastructure to the west. The NRA's forward planning techniques are very poor. There are many examples of this, as the Minister of State is aware. As we leave Dublin this afternoon we find that what should have been incorporated in the initial stages of major infrastructure around the capital is totally inadequate, at the roundabouts, etc. Nobody within the NRA's engineering or planning staff appears to have had the foresight to see the necessity for the slip roads now being put in at various junctions.

There are other examples in the far west. The Taoiseach, along with the former Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, visited Gort in County Galway, where we are at the final planning stages for the provision of the new N18, particularly the part from Oranmore to Gort to Crusheen, bordering the Minister of State's constituency. The NRA has continuously refused to provide a second entrance to the town of Gort, despite the fact the case for its obvious need has been submitted to it. It continually says it will be considered when there is a need. That is a classic example which shows the NRA has learned nothing from the mistakes of the past.

Is it responsible to anybody or the Minister for its very costly mistakes? Those in the west and the Border, midlands and west region have had to wait a long time for a major upgrade of their infrastructure and have had to sit by while the mistakes the NRA made in the rest of the country have been corrected at great expense.

Consider the rest areas proposed in the Bill. Why is the NRA so secretive about identifying their exact position in its plans for the major routes throughout the remainder of the country and in respect of existing upgraded roads? There is no indication whatever that it has identified the locations of rest areas on roads subject to planning and under construction. Is there a reason for its not doing so?

People in the west, including industrialists, travelling to Dublin Airport or Dublin Port for commercial reasons will have to pay three tolls to get to the former and four to get to the latter. In some cases, particularly for a truck, this would cost an additional €60 for the return journey. If we are to disadvantage manufacturers transporting goods from the west to Dublin Port with an additional penal tax on road use, we are not being serious about encouraging growth in the west. How can any industrialist seriously consider locating in the west when there is such an impediment and disincentive put in place by central government and the NRA? The toll booths represent a money machine for those constructing them.

If one leaves the outskirts of Dublin and travels westward as far as Kinnegad on the N6, one will find no service area of any kind, even though one is travelling on a motorway. There is a maximum speed limit of 120 km/h. Between Kinnegad and Kilbeggan, there is a road of equal, if not better, standard. There is no doubt that it is a top-class road but a speed limit of 100 km/h is applied thereon. This has caused confusion and some have been penalised because of the inadequacy of the road signage on the new section.

The quality of the signage on modern roadways leaves an awful lot to be desired. As one approaches many signs, especially at dusk, even if driving with full-beam lights, the information does not show up clearly. There are several cases of very inferior road signage on the new section of road between Kinnegad and Kilbeggan, either because of the way in which it is manufactured or the quality of material used. This can be regarded as a danger because one's inability to read signs on time to determine the location of exits can cause disruption to motorists behind who clearly intend to drive straight ahead. I ask that these points be taken up with the NRA.

Do the NRA and Government realise the consequences of certain new infrastructural developments, for instance, on the N17 and N18, which extend from Tuam to the Clare border beyond Gort? Already fragmented farms are being split again. The Government is continuing to impose a penal tax on farmers' livelihoods by way of acquiring their land through compulsory purchase orders. In the west, where farms are already seriously fragmented, the splitting in two of small parcels of land prevents absolutely the continuation of viable farming in many instances. While it may not be the case in all instances, those responsible for compensating farmers should have a more considerate and conciliatory way of apportioning compensation and the Government should not have demanded an additional penal tax on what was, to many farmers, their livelihood and which is now rendered pretty much useless. I hope these matters will be attended to.

Everyone is aware of the steadfastness of the NRA in refusing to move its routes, even marginally, once put on paper, although they may just be desktop designs rather than finalised proposals. It creates a design and route and will not change them regardless of the consequences. In this regard I hope the case of Gort will be addressed. The Taoiseach said there would be no problem having a second entrance into Gort and Deputy Roche, the former Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, said there would be a second entrance into the town. I do not refer to a bypass but to the new section of the N18 proposed for the area. There is no reasonable access to the town. Heretofore, traffic coming from the midlands, going through Loughrea and on to Gort, would have turned left before the town to avoid passing through it, but under the new plans of the NRA, it is now forced to go through the town. Trucks and other vehicles from the midlands on their way to Shannon Airport and Limerick are now forced to pass through the town, thus adding to the serious traffic congestion on the N18 from Limerick to Galway.

I do not understand why the NRA persists in ignoring the practical considerations of the people living in areas where difficulties have been identified. I hope there will be a response, even at this late stage and in this Bill, to the practical considerations and to the lack of forward thinking of the NRA and, as a consequence, the Government.

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