Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. I fully understand the situation in which the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Government find themselves. If the funds had been made available or if the previous Government had invested wisely, an underpass would have been built at Palmerstown on the N4. Such an underpass would have been similar to that which was put in place on the same road at the Newcastle Road interchange and which has proven to be very successful. The Minister of State and I both served on South Dublin County Council and we are aware of the constraints under which it is operating. From the discussions in which I have been involved, I am aware that the local authority - for the reasons I have outlined - sees this matter as a priority. As stated earlier, we are sitting on a time bomb and I do not want to think about the consequences when the traffic management system at the Palmerstown junction crashes.

In light of the significance of the traffic management system to which I refer, South Dublin County Council has applied for a separate grant of €300,000. I would be very happy to obtain further information in respect of that matter and pass it on to the Department.

I hope the Government will be able to assist us because the local authority does not have the resources. The money is required to upgrade this road because of its significance to the greater Dublin area.

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