Dáil debates
Thursday, 20 January 2022
Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation
12:50 pm
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source
A number of Deputies have raised the issue of the roads programme with me in recent weeks. In the programme for Government we made a clear commitment that when it comes to investment in new transport projects, two thirds will go to public transport and one third will go to the roads programme. That means we still have a roads programme and we will continue to construct new roads and continue to produce a pipeline of additional roads. However, the money only goes so far and Transport Infrastructure Ireland has to make difficult decisions sometimes as to which projects progress in which particular year. I am concerned about the very large number of projects that appear to be stalled, particularly those that relate to road safety, accessing industrial lands to create jobs and potential lands for housing. It is something we discussed at leader level and we will see if we can do something to resolve the situation. We must prioritise investment in public transport, but we cannot have a situation whereby we do not progress important road projects that contribute to road safety, can create jobs and provide housing.
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