Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It would be wonderful if there was investment put into Rosslare Port because there is an opportunity there to make things much better.

The Minister mentioned road improvements. That is not the biggest demand in Wexford at the moment. A bypass is being built around New Ross. A bridge to deal with the traffic issue could have been built for a fraction of the price that the bypass will cost. It is a public private partnership. It is going to cost over 15% to buy the money to do it. We are paying 15 times more than we should be for the money because we have not managed to get the EU to allow us to invest in infrastructure off the books. If it goes on the books we have to watch the 3% mark. We are paying through the nose for that.

We are building a new courthouse and a new Garda station but these are not the most demanding things for the people of Wexford. Sadly, there are massive waiting lists for social housing and jobs. There are huge problems of lack of investment in and resources for mental health. Improving the road infrastructure is not solving all Wexford's problems.

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