Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

Even if it is necessary to spend a little bit more on a PPP, when one balances out the cost over the lifetime of the project, one will see that good value for money is obtained. When the project has been completed, a road will be in place which would not otherwise have been constructed if one was obliged to wait until the money became available. If we had not put in place the PPP project, only many of the roads built in recent years would not be in place because we would not have had the money to proceed with their construction.

PPPs are used to generate finance. The reason the roads to which the Deputy refers are being considered in the context of PPPs is in order to release funding for use on public transport projects. I am sure he would have no difficulty with that. It is why I wanted to move in this direction. The roads to which the Deputy refers — two projects on the N20, Cork to Limerick route, the N17, Galway to Claremorris route, and the N11, Gorey to Enniscorthy route incorporating the New Ross bypass — are under consideration in this regard because they are deemed to be most suitable.

The reason tolls will not apply is because it is the considered view of the NRA, based on its experience, that any of the roads it would be reasonable to toll and to obtain a return on are already being tolled. The NRA has not identified any other road projects which should be the subject of tolls. The taxpayer will pay for the projects to which the Deputy refers on a unitary payment basis.

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, will be addressing the cost of land in a designated lands Bill.

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