John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to reassure my colleague, Deputy O'Donovan, that the road works in train in the south east on the N11 and, more specifically, on the N25 via the New Ross bypass are of the most essential nature. I am familiar with Adare, where I have from time to time found myself caught in traffic. I have the utmost sympathy with the residents of that beautiful town, who at particular times of the day are unable to go about their business because of the volume of traffic there. With regard to the work on the N25, I can assure him that the residents of Rosbercon, which is on the Kilkenny side of the bridge in New Ross, have for many years been virtually prisoners in their homes at particular times of the evening because of the volume of traffic that builds up on the euro-route, which is the route between Rosslare and Cork, which runs via New Ross, Waterford city and Dungarvan. Given the volume of traffic on this road, the New Ross bypass is a much welcome and overdue piece of necessary infrastructural development in my part of the world.

I agree with the sentiment expressed earlier in the week by Deputy O'Donovan that a person building a rural house should be encouraged to speak to the planning authorities in advance of making an application in that regard. In terms of the construction of major infrastructure, such a facility should exist. I agree also with the views expressed earlier by Deputy Heather Humphreys in regard to the need for a debate with the Minister prior to the introduction in April of the road user charge in Northern Ireland and the potential impact of that on hauliers in this part of the world. Certain actions need to be taken in this regard.

I welcome that this legislation provides also for a reduction in quangos. I found the contributions of some earlier speakers who were complaining about the abolition of quangos very interesting. The word "quango", which stands for "quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisation", is a term that derives largely from British politics of the 1980s and applies all over the world, not least in Ireland. There was a huge proliferation of these agencies during the past 15 years, particularly during the Celtic tiger era, although not particularly in the transport area. Much of the time these were agencies behind which Government could hide in terms of decisions not made or decisions with which it did not wish to be associated. More often than not they provided an opportunity for patronage, with the appointment of people who were close to the particular parties in government to boards, for which they were suitably rewarded. I welcome that Departments are examining on a case-by-case basis what agencies might be abolished. That many of them are to be abolished is to be welcomed. There has already been some progress in this regard. Deputy Nulty referred earlier to the need for the Government to examine the abolition of these quangos on a case-by-case basis. Clearly, this is what is happening. It makes absolute sense that there would be only one agency in the transport area, particularly in the context of the huge investment over the past 15 years in our road infrastructure and the unlikeliness of investment in this area into the future given that most of the motorways have already been built.

The amalgamation of the NRA and the RPA makes sense. For this reason, I support this legislation.

See this speech in context