Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am heartened by the Minister's response to this issue. An additional €1.5 million this year will keep this project on track and allow the design team to continue with the route-selection works. Everything the Minister has said would echo the views of the midlands, generally. This is a critical infrastructure and road, not only for the midlands, but for the wider north-west region. It behoves us, as legislators and the Government, to ensure in the interest of balanced regional development that this road programme is put back on track this year. I hope that the Minister and his colleagues in Cabinet can ensure that the necessary funding comes into being to allow the road project proceed.

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