Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the Deputy's first question as to whether I am aware of figures for the economic cost of the congestion at that point, I do not have such figures in my possession. I would be confident, however, that if there is such a study it would show that there is an economic cost to those levels of congestion, not to mention a social and personal cost for people in terms of spending so much time in traffic.

The Deputy's second question was whether I accept there is a need for this project. What we have done in terms of decisions we have made elsewhere, for example, Newlands Cross, is sought to fund projects that, when delivered in conjunction with transport infrastructure already in place, relieved congestion and made it more efficient for traffic to flow. As I said in my initial answer to the question, I understand this is an important project. I understand it would become even more important were the Cork Harbour project to move ahead, which is a decision An Bord Pleanála will make in terms of planning conditions it may impose with regard to it. However, I have to view all of those projects inside the fixed amount of capital I have available to me, although I hope that amount of capital will increase in the future.

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