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

I thank the Minister for coming. I will say one thing for him - he is one of the few senior Ministers who comes here to answer questions in Topical Issues debates. We might criticise him correctly on other issues, but we appreciate him being here.

My colleague, Deputy Scanlon, and I are here again to bring to the Minister's attention the deficits on one of the national primary routes in Roscommon. It is the section of the N4 between Carrick-on-Shannon and Boyle, on which I am sure the Minister has travelled. If he has not, I invite him to do so in the next week or two in order that he can have a good look at it. A number of junctions on it cause grave concern. Deputy Scanlon and I will highlight the right turn to Knockvicar and the left turn to Croghan. There is a mounting number of accidents, in which people are injured, at these junctions. It is an urgent matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, which should formulate a plan as quickly as possible. I know that the council and councillors in the region have been highlighting the matter from as early as 2010 when there was a campaign about the issue, but nothing was done. We need lining improvements on the road at the junctions mentioned. In the meantime, we know that a flashing sign telling motorists to slow down has been effective on the N5. Such a project could be considered in the short term as I understand such signs are not very expensive.

I will hand over shortly to my colleague, Deputy Scanlon, but I am making a personal appeal to the Minister to take this matter most seriously. It might be argued that accidents are not registered at the locations, but, unfortunately, some people do not report minor accidents. I urge people to do so. If we do not act, there will be loss of life at the junctions mentioned. Many people have been injured at them, particularly in recent years. I, therefore, urge the Minister to get TII to deal with the matter as soon as possible.

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