Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. It is nice to be back. Like other Deputies, I welcome this Bill. The most important part of the legislation deals with tolling and lifting the barriers on the M50. Travelling on the M50 is something we have all experienced at some stage. Fortunately I do not do so on a daily basis but I feel for those commuters who have to sit at the M50 toll booths for hours on end. We have heard some horrific stories in that regard. I am sure the fact that this long and sorry saga will soon be at an end will come as a relief to all those commuters. It is a pity it took so long but we will have barrier-free tolling from 2008. NTR had an agreement with the Government and at that time it was probably the only body willing to build the M50. In hindsight, it probably got a very good deal, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. Nonetheless it is good to see the contract has been bought out and ownership is returning to the State. The State will now have control over the M50 and I am sure many people are relieved, but it is a pity it took so long.

In his speech the Minister referred to the fact that the money taken in future will be invested in upgrading the M50, which is going on at present. For those working in transport it must be a nightmare trying to predict future road usage — predictions always seem to fall short of reality. However, it is important that the funding to be collected from the tolling in future will be reinvested in the upgrading of the M50. I wish to see transparency with regard to when the upgrading work will be completed and the tolling ceased, if at all. Those who are paying the tolls to fund the road expect that at some point the work will be completed and the tolling ended.

Motorists in this country feel hard done by. They are heavily taxed through motor tax, petrol costs and so forth, and they must also pay tolls. It looks likely that the road from Cork to Dublin will have two tolls. The Fermoy bypass currently has a toll of €2.60, or €5.20 for a return journey. If the section from Portlaoise to Cullahill is also to be tolled, that will add significantly to the cost of travelling from Cork to Dublin. I am concerned about this issue and would like confirmation that there will be an end to the tolling at some point. Once roads are paid for they should be free to all taxpayers and road users.

Tolling is now to be registered and drivers can obtain a disk for their cars, for which they pay, but how will foreign drivers or those who have a foreign registration plate or licence be detected? I know there are procedures in place in the United Kingdom and Germany to detect such drivers. It would be very unfair if they did not have to pay, particularly if, as we are told, 10% of drivers in this country are foreign. We must ensure that the system is fair and that everybody who uses the roads pay their fair share.

The Minister referred in his speech to Transport 21 and outlined the excellent progress that has been made to date. A sum of €34 billion is to be spent over ten years. A total of 23 projects are listed and of the 14 that were completed last year, 12 were on budget and one was ahead of schedule, namely, the Kinsale Road interchange on the N21 in my constituency. That was opened six months ahead of schedule. It was a badly needed facility which relieved traffic congestion in that area. However, it was understood in Cork that another flyover was to be put in place at the Bandon Road-Sarsfield Road roundabout, but that has been stalled. It seems ridiculous that on a single stretch of the N21 there is a flyover at only one roundabout, which simply transfers the traffic less than a mile down the road. In that sense, it has only led to congestion in another area.

I met the NRA recently which told me that its focus is now on inter-urban routes. I would hate to think that important infrastructure such as the aforementioned flyover would fall off the agenda. Likewise, the N28 and the upgrading of the road from Cork to Ringaskiddy is extremely important, not just for local people but also in terms of the Government's spatial strategy. In terms of encouraging development in Cork, this road is badly needed to facilitate moving the port of Cork down harbour to the Ringaskiddy area. Without the upgrade of the N28, it will not be possible to move the port. In that context, it is essential infrastructure. A lot hangs on the development of the N28 and I hope it has not fallen off the agenda. I know it is at compulsory purchase order stage but there is no guarantee that it will progress to tender and construction stages at the pace which is needed to ensure development in the region. I expect to raise this important matter with the Minister again. I urge him to examine the issue and ensure it goes ahead. I hope it will be a priority for the NRA and that the Minister will make his views known in that regard.

I am pleased the Bill provides for the upgrading of high quality dual carriageways to motorways. Having read statements from the NRA in the past few years claiming that it would provide a motorway from Cork to Dublin by 2010, I wondered how it would achieve that, but now I see that much of the route will be upgraded from high quality dual carriageway to motorway status. Motorways are much safer in that exits and entrances to them are controlled. Drivers take motorways seriously, remain in the correct lane and generally observe the speed limits. The fact that the limit is 120 km per hour is very beneficial for drivers. I welcome this development, which is extremely important in the context of driver safety. It is on our lower classification roads that we see a high level of accidents and unfortunate fatalities.

This Bill will facilitate the provision of rest areas, which is also very important. I was driving to Dublin late one night last week and noticed a lot of heavy goods vehicles parked on the quays, by Heuston Station. There are no rest areas for drivers and nowhere for them to stop. It was dreadful that they had to park by the quays where there are no toilet or snack facilities nearby. Rest areas are very important, not just for heavy goods vehicle drivers but for all those using our roads. There is a severe lack of rest areas, particularly given the recent closure of many petrol stations. It is very difficult to get petrol and one has to plan one's journey very carefully. Petrol stations are closing because they are not viable if they have to depend on petrol sales alone. Having travelled widely during the Seanad campaign five years ago, I know that one must plan one's journey and ensure that the petrol tank is filled by 8 p.m., otherwise one may not find a filling station open until the following morning. Therefore, it is great to see that rest areas are being provided because they are extremely important and will bring about the first-class transport system to which we all aspire.

The provision of parking around sports stadia is welcome. Having been involved with residents' groups — I am referring in particular to those around Páirc Uí Chaoimh — I know it is difficult for local people to find parking spaces when major sporting events are taking place. There have always been such concerns about parking in residential areas. Yesterday, I read that Dublin City Council is considering not issuing parking permits for residential areas any more, which is unfortunate. It seems as if we are turning many residential areas into park-and-ride facilities for commuters. The provision of residents' parking permits around sports stadia is welcome, however, and I am glad to see that such powers are being given to local authorities which will negotiate with the residents concerned. It is another useful mechanism.

I welcome many of the Bill's provisions and look forward to hearing the Minister's comments on Committee and Report Stages.

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