Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I recognise that funding for these projects has fallen from over €600 million to €350 million in the current year. Leaving that aside, the point I would make to the Minister of State is that during the boom years Laois County Council did not come looking for funding for this orbital route from central Government. It used local resources and used them well.

I take on board the Minister of State's point that the priority is to maintain what is there. In the context of Portlaoise, and if the Department is to maintain what is there, significant damage is being done to the Timahoe Road, the Stradbally Road, the Abbeyleix Road and other roads in the town because this 600 m of road is not in place. If this piece of infrastructure was in place, it would take a considerable burden of traffic off the other roads.

I am informed that the total cost would come to a maximum of €4.8 million. Laois County Council has acquired one of the parcels of land. It has already started that process in that the CPO has been approved for all lands concerned. The remaining section, of almost 600 m, is the last piece of vital infrastructure. It is the last piece of the jigsaw and would complete the N80 bypass, from the south east, right up across the midlands and into the west. I am urging the Government in this regard.

There was some talk in recent days - about which the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, who is seated beside the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, may know more - of some kind of stimulus package. I recognise the Government must spend money carefully and I would not want to see money thrown around, but this would represent value for money. I am reliably informed that Laois County Council would not come looking for the full €4.8 million from the Government. It would play its part and pull its weight by making an input locally. If the Government is considering a list of capital projects, I ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, who is beside the Minister of State, to ensure this vital piece of infrastructure is included.

It is good that the cities were connected by motorways. It was long overdue. We must connect the regions by national secondary routes and we are a long way behind on it although that was the intention. If the Minister recalls, during the 2000s it was intended to sort out the cities first and put motorways in place. That is done. The Department must start moving to connect the ports to the regions by way of national secondary routes such as the N80.

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