Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)

The Minister is always welcome to the constituency that is Sligo-Leitrim and south Donegal. Indeed, he is always welcome to the west and north west. When he does come, he can come by road, rail, bike or foot. In the Minister's case, I understand he sometimes comes by boat up the Shannon.

I wish to raise the N17 Sligo to Galway and Mayo road. It is an issue everyone wants resolved, and I am delighted it now has been. In the previous Government, there was an issue. The former Minister, Eamon Ryan, came to Sligo and said funding for that road would not be continued. Between the three leaders, we came up with a compromise that allowed the road to progress. I am delighted the N17 is in the programme for Government. It is important.

There are other road projects. For example, we need progress on the N15 to Sligo and Donegal. I understand the Minister is aware of that. There is also the N16. A lot of good work has been done as far as the Leitrim border but there is an issue regarding the road over to Glencar lake. It needs to be resurfaced. There is no money for that at the moment, so we need to look for funding. Coming across the border from Manorhamilton in Leitrim into Sligo, the road is in a bad state of repair. It needs surface dressing.

I also wish to raise the Carrick-on-Shannon bypass. We must ensure it progresses. During the summer or on a Friday or Saturday, one could be waiting up to 40 or 45 minutes. The good news is that the N5 - the Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge road - is progressing. Nearly €400 million has been spent on it. It will be open in the next six months. For traffic coming from Sligo to Dublin or vice versa, we need a plan so that it comes down through Boyle, for example, and hits the N5 around Elphin. That would take a bit of pressure off Carrick-on-Shannon. It needs a bypass to survive, thrive and grow. It is happening but I want to make sure the bypass and N17 get approval. I thank the Minister for listening to his Government TDs and delivering on these projects.

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