Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to say a few words on the amalgamation of the Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, and National Roads Authority, NRA. They are a good fit in terms of critical infrastructure delivery. Over their relatively short periods of existence, both have acquitted themselves in a reasonably efficient manner.

In so far as they are a good fit they also complement the Government's endeavour to reduce the number of quangos. The term "quangos" has often been used as an almost pejorative term, and my political party is somewhat culpable in this regard although I do not believe it was used in any way to undermine the dedication or professionalism of people working in those bodies. However, there has been significant progress on that policy initiative. Of the 46 or 48 authorities identified originally, more than 90% of them have been progressed to amalgamations, abolition or being subsumed back into their parent Department. That is reflective of where we are in terms of demanding the maximum efficiencies. We much acknowledge that the public service, which has been much maligned in many respects during the downturn, has worked with this agenda and has embraced change in a very significant way with regard to work practices, organisations and so forth. That is to its eternal credit and I thank the public servants individually and their leadership in their unions.

In the context of amalgamating and abolishing these bodies, we have also not been averse to establishing new ones, and it is important to acknowledge that. They have been established on a case-by-case basis for good reasons. It is not as if we are implacably opposed to the principle. We should proceed with it where it makes good sense, but for a long period of time there was certainly scope for efficiencies.

With regard to this amalgamation, my colleague, Deputy Seán Kenny, said he hoped the Railway Procurement Agency would not be diminished in its standing relative to road expenditure. I wish to make a case in the other direction. It probably depends on where one comes from. If one is in the Pale, critical infrastructure is rail, DART, Luas and so forth. In my area roads are of primary importance and I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy Alan Kelly, will bring that relative balance to the Department in respect of the consideration of budgets in the future. Everybody wants the best possible infrastructure that is efficient for their area, but in rural areas roads are the life blood of commerce, social engagement and so forth so we must ensure those budgets are not disproportionate relative to each other.

I wish to acknowledge the progress being made on the N22 in my constituency by the NRA in respect of engaging with landowners for the Macroom bypass. I thank the Minister for his intervention in approving the goodwill payment to the landowners. These landowners were caught up in a legal case which lasted over two years and delayed progress, so that is very welcome. I hope that it is now full steam ahead and that the Macroom bypass can be progressed in the next road building programmes, possibly in connection with the Dunkettle interchange. I realise there is a degree of catch-up required to get to that position and to get all the ducks lined up in a row in terms of a public-private partnership. That is a challenge and, hopefully, the new authority will waste no time in bedding down and getting stuck into that. I acknowledge what has been done by the staff in the NRA to date.

Roads are critical to employment opportunities. I agree with the point made by Deputy McNamara. A great deal of work could be done, not necessarily on national primary or secondary roads but on the more minor roads. When one considers the amount of potential labour that currently cannot find useful employment and the amount of work that must be one, it should not be beyond the ingenuity of our leaders to devise a system to match the two.

Finally, many Members will be familiar with the tragic crash that happened in Devon approximately 18 months ago in which Mr. Con Twomey, his son Oisin and his unborn daughter lost their lives and in which his wife was seriously injured. I thank the Minister for Transport, Deputy Varadkar, for meeting recently with Elber Twomey, the wife of Con Twomey and mother of the aforementioned children, in respect of a campaign she is trying to organise regarding the manner in which the authorities, be it the Garda or the Road Safety Authority, devise strategies to deal with suicidal drivers. Unfortunately, the circumstances in this case were that the pursuit of the driver resulted in the carnage and casualties.

The Minister has agreed to pursue with the Road Safety Authority and all other relevant bodies, particularly the Garda, a means of having best practice for dealing with drivers who are suicidal. I appreciate the Chair's indulgence in allowing me to make that point and I appreciate the signals the Minister has given about working with the Road Safety Authority and with the Minister for Justice and Equality, in respect of working with the Garda, to work out appropriate protocols.

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