Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)

The Deputy has raised this in the committee and here in the House. As I said to him, a judicial review held up that whole scheme. We got consent and were ready to go, and then came the judicial review. Once it comes through the planning process, we will be on the ground. As I explained to the Deputy, I am working extremely hard to try to do this. He can play a part by going to talk to the people who bring these objections to see if we have done everything required so that, when it comes out, we are not faced with another objection and it is delayed again. It is unfair to say the OPW and my Department have not worked tirelessly to try to deliver this scheme. I know the pressure the Deputy is facing over the length of time it has taken. Once there is a judicial review, it holds up the entire planning process. He knows how long this has been going on and so do I. Let us see what happens in the next few weeks and then we can get working.

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