Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)

The Minister will know that €2 million of taxpayers' money has been expended on choosing the route for a road we cannot afford to build. A 300 m corridor is currently in place. In the parish of Crossabeg alone, on the north side of Wexford town, 60 houses and 30 landowners are not in a position to move or sell their properties because of the proposed motorway. That 300 m corridor, for all practical purposes, is sterilised and it is impossible for the people concerned to sell anything. This is a significant problem, given that the motorway, if it is ever built, is a long time away.

As regards the matter of the €3 million, Mott MacDonald, were the consultants hired to report on the viability of building stage three of the project to reduce the corridor and they will also be doing the work. These guys were given the €2 million in the first place and they will get the €3 million next time. If any area is to be sterilised, the locals would prefer an area of 60 m rather than 300 m but the most favourable option would be to have no sterilisation.

I understand the point made by the Minister and I agree that a shopping centre should not be permitted within this 300 m corridor - that is fair enough - but the notion that houses and land are sterilised and frozen in this chosen area is a bit outrageous when it is probable the motorway will never be built.

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