Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We remember the Government's fanfare at major launches such as Our Rural Future, the shared island initiative and the ten launches for the NDP. The lofty words spoken at those launches about commitment to rural, regional and all-Ireland development actually count for very little when compared with the failure to deliver the infrastructure projects our regions require. We recently learned that the actions of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Government have resulted in the TII stalling the next planning phase of the Clontibret to the Border N2 road scheme, for example. Money was diverted from that project to pet projects of the Minister. The actions of TII at the behest of the Government could permanently condemn a project that was a key component of several peace process talks and is an integral infrastructure project for a region that has no rail network and a pathetic level of public transport options. Will the Taoiseach outline today whether he will ensure that this decision is reversed and the funding for this infrastructure project will be restored?

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