Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)

I struggled through and this incident exemplifies the approach to joined up thinking. We are discussing non-regional roads but sharp focus is necessary when considering towns and villages such as St. Johnston, Muff and Carrigans. These rural areas suffered considerably, both economically and socially, during the 30 years of the Troubles. These are the forgotten areas that have not featured in mainstream thinking in regard to infrastructural development. We politicians tend to focus on the grandiose announcements regarding motorways and dual carriageways. I hope the Minister will look after these Border roads within the new framework. Their condition is an absolute disgrace. The EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation and its successor, PEACE II, have filled a vacuum in funding in the past ten years. In terms of long-term strategic thinking, however, we cannot expect local authorities to meet the maintenance costs involved. We must adopt a strategic approach to developing these routes.

Consideration must be given to the provision of railway services in the region. Donegal County Council presented a document to the strategic committee in recent days putting forward the case for opening up a former railway route to St. Johnston from Letterkenny and though Strabane. I am disappointed that the Minister is being sidetracked from transport issues. He is generally subjected to a barrage of criticism, but I had faith in him in this regard. It was galling to hear a spokesperson for Iarnród Éireann saying on RTE Radio 1, with reference to the Sligo-Dublin route, that the number of rail passengers is continually increasing. This is something we must tap into in terms of long-term strategy.

Other types of infrastructural projects also require funding. I put a question to the Minister for Transport as to whether there will be a funding mechanism for the continuance of the ferry route from Magilligan to Greencastle in north Inishowen. The response was that the Department has no responsibility in this regard. This points once again to the lack of joined up thinking in respect of public service provision. The north west is a peripheral area and the lack of railway infrastructure means we must rely entirely on the transportation of goods by road.

There is much talk of centralised decision-making, and we must look at that as an opportunity. The National Roads Authority receives funding for the improvement and maintenance of national primary and secondary roads. However, there has been an absolute deficit in terms of broader vision. The NRA must give up the notion that a particular road project is a stand-alone one simply because it happens to be a national primary or secondary road. Linkages can be created. Some of the finest regional roads can be as good as, if not better than, some national secondary roads.

I call for a broadening of thinking in terms of the strategic linkage between our national primary and secondary routes, on the one hand, and our non-national and regional roads, on the other. I am sceptical about the purpose of this legislation.

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