Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is one of the most important motions that has come before the House in the two and a half years I have been here. I loudly applaud Deputy Troy for the work and research he has done on this. I support Deputies Lisa Chambers and Niall Collins and other members of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party.

With regard to TEN-T projects, the west, mid-west and north west were thrown to the wolves. We were given nothing. I do not blame the Minister, Deputy Ross. It was our current Taoiseach who had scant regard for the western coastline and the midlands. It is the one part of Ireland that can be developed. Look at what the Government has done. In 2011, it withdrew the grants from the airports in Galway and Sligo. The Minister and others may say that they were not important but there were businessmen from London and France flying into Galway Airport looking at projects to create jobs and they do not come any more. They will not fly into Shannon Airport and take an hour to get up to Galway city because they cannot afford the time. As the Minister and others know, if one is in business time is of the essence and things move fast. These people no longer come here. It was a huge mistake to take away the grants from places like Galway and Sligo.

Ireland West Airport in Knock should be turned into a national airport. That is what we need to develop the west of Ireland. Then we can develop the industrial zones. The way we were treated when these projects were put in before was absolutely outrageous. That is why we need this review as quickly as possible. I am constantly coming in here pleading with the Minister about the N4 and the N5 and how difficult it is to get them developed. While the Minister and his colleagues in government tell us they are in process, not much is happening. They will not be developed for the next five or six or maybe eight years. I hope I am wrong. I hope the Minister can confirm to the House that the projects will move forward as quickly as possible.

The regional roads in the west and the midlands are in a mess. Much of the traffic coming from a northerly direction and heading south takes the regional roads that run through the area from Carrick-on-Shannon to Athlone and right on through County Roscommon.

No money is being spent on regional roads and they are not fit for such heavy traffic.

I fully support my colleagues and plead with the Minister to move forward with this review as quickly as possible. As Deputy Chambers said, we cannot wait until 2023. If he wants to develop Ireland and make the place great again, the Minister should look to the west for opportunities, get the review done and invest money in it.

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