Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I refer also to Dunkettle and the N4 to Sligo. A two-to-one split is about right. I appreciate that Deputy Eamon Ryan sees things differently and would have a much smaller roads programme. Looking at the projects, however, I know why they are included. Another really important one is the outer ring road in Galway. I do not think we should cancel the roads programme altogether, or reprofile or review it as others have suggested.

On air quality, I live in this city, very near to the M50. Believe me, air quality is something in which I have a real interest. It is something we will need to tackle and work on. It is not quite the case that the nitrous oxide limits have been breached, but they are heading there. It is good that the EPA came out early and gave us that warning. The Dublin local authorities will be required under European law to produce an action plan to deal with them. Central government will support them, but I am conscious of the results of the local elections. Generally, the Dublin local authorities are now governed by a coalition involving Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.

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