Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House and taking the issue. He has shown a good and clear understanding of the issue. I appreciate that he knows the road and that he understands the frustrations of those of us in the area. It is a single carriageway route into the heart of west Cork. We are reliant on visitors and tourists. We are also reliant on investment, like every other area.

It is frustrating when I tell the people that in the times of plenty there was no development of the road and no progress made. The year 1998 was the last time there was progress when 1.1 km of carriageway was upgraded, but since then there has been absolutely no investment. It is not right or proper that I, as a public representative with a mandate from the people, should go back to the people I have the honour of representing and put it to them that, unfortunately, it is the NRA which decides where the money goes and that it is at the mercy of the authority whether the people of west Cork get a decent road. I am their public representative and, as I said in my original contribution, I am the person who has gone out and supported all the measures, many of them unpopular, to raise and increase taxes to get our finances right. I appreciate that our finances are still in a perilous state and that although we are out of the grasp of the troika, we still do not have autonomy over what we can do. However, as we start to move to the area where capital budgets will improve and increase, I am keen to get an assurance from the Department, the Minister and the NRA that the N71 will become a priority and that the wrongs of the past two decades under successive Governments can be righted. I am keen for the people of west Cork to be given an assurance that as moneys come to play and to hand, the N71 will be a priority for an upgrade to ensure the survival of west Cork.

There are competing needs on the road. Cyclists lead the charge some days and are followed by cars, buses or lorries. There can be tractors as well and all these vehicles on the single carriageway can hold up the entire area. It is most frustrating and it is time we ensured there were improvements. I appreciate that the Minister of State will take on board my concerns. I will continue to liaise with the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, as well. I appreciate the Minister of State taking the matter to the Department and the NRA on my behalf and I will be grateful for any answers I get.

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