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

I agree with the Deputy that the maintenance and, where necessary, the creation of good national roads are crucial to how the economy moves and our ability to move goods and services throughout the country. It is also crucial to make sure the national finances continue to improve and that if we commit to a project, we have the ability to fund it. The Deputy will be aware that a condition of the planning permission granted for the millennium business park was that an interchange be built at Osberstown. If that scheme was executed in isolation, the consequence would be an addition of 8% to the volume of traffic on the M7 motorway, which is already operating at a very high level of capacity and exceptionally busy. To deal with this issue in a comprehensive way, we need to deliver a number of projects in the area, including widening the road at Naas, funding the interchange and carrying out work at Sallins. The total cost of all these projects is €110 million. We can only commit to a project if we are confident that we can fund it. The group of projects has a high priority, but in order for it to go ahead, I have to be confident that I can fund it and that the State will be in a position to afford it in the future

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