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

As the Minister is the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have to ask him if he is aware of the misuse of public transport funding that is discriminating against regions in this country? The N2 road alongside the A5 has been considered in several Government documents and plans to be a crucial artery and economic driver for both the central, Border and the north-western regions of the country. However, unilaterally, the funding for the next phase of the Clontibret to the Border section of that scheme was withdrawn this year. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, has confirmed that will be revisited at the direction of the Government. However, it seems that nobody in government is willing to make a case. I need to know if the Minister has been examining how this money is allocated and the fact it discriminates against key regions and is actually undermining other agreed Government policy.

See this speech in context