Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing this topic to be discussed and the Minister of State for coming to the House to debate it.

When the Ennis to Gort motorway, including the bypass of Crusheen, was completed some years ago, people in east Galway and the west were looking forward to the commencement of the Gort to Tuam motorway. As well as the need for the motorway, there was a hope that the project would create employment.

The Minister of State knows the history of this project. In 2010, the contract for the project was awarded to the BAM Balfour Beatty consortium, which could not secure the financial backing to start it. Later, the National Roads Authority had discussions with the consortium known as Roadbridge. Again, private funding was a problem. It is now reported that consideration has been given to completing the Gort to Athenry section only.

This will not be good news for Tuam, where there is traffic congestion, while for years there have been traffic delays between Tuam and Galway city. Four years ago, a €29 million water, sewerage and utilities scheme was sanctioned for Tuam. It has become known as the big dig. It is nearly complete and will be of great benefit to the town. It is a great comfort that the work is to be finished. There has been major traffic disruption in the town of Tuam and there will be huge disappointment if the bypass, which was earmarked six years ago, is not included in the road development. If the funding allows a motorway from Gort to Athenry, there is the question of Claregalway. What are the proposals for Claregalway?

I know the Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, and the Minister of State, Deputy Kelly, have shown their commitment to funding motorway projects. They have stated this clearly with regard to the west. I raise this issue to learn from the Minister of State if funding is available for the motorway. I know funding from private sources has been difficult to obtain but the west has suffered cutbacks to transport infrastructure projects. There have been cutbacks relating to Galway airport and delays on the western rail corridor.

The Minister has not been hopeful about the western rail corridor project recently. Neither has he been hopeful about the future of Galway Airport. These are all related because they are part of the transport infrastructure we would like to see in the west.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I thank the House for giving me the opportunity to deal with this matter in the absence of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has responsibility for overall policy and funding the national roads programme. However, the planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects are matters for the National Roads Authority, NRA, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. The N17-Nl8 PPP scheme is approximately 57 km in length and commences at the northern extremity of the N18 Gort to Crusheen scheme and ends in the vicinity of Tuam. It will replace the existing N17 and N18, providing bypasses for the towns of Clarinbridge, Claregalway and Tuam where significant delays frequently occur. Originally there were three separate schemes. The N18 Oranmore to Gort road scheme was approved with modifications by An Bord Pleanála on 6 June 2007. The M17 Galway to Tuam road scheme has been the subject of an An Bord Pleanála oral hearing and the motorway scheme was approved by it on 6 March 2009. The N17 Tuam bypass was approved by An Bord Pleanála in August 2006. A technical advisory consultant was appointed and commenced work in September 2007.

The project will significantly improve safety, reduce journey times, improve connectivity within the western region and significantly assist in the economic development of the Border, midlands and western, BMW, region. The scheme will improve access to Shannon Airport and Ireland West Airport at Knock which has been identified as a major infrastructural requirement for sustaining industrial growth in the region. Additionally, the development of a high quality dual carriageway-motorway link between Letterkenny and Waterford is a specific objective of the National Development Plan, NDP, 2007 to 2013 and the proposed N17-N18 PPP scheme represents a part of the proposed network.

The PPP project has been procured as an untolled road scheme with payments by the public sector to be based on an availability-based payment mechanism throughout the operational period. It must be recognised that the payment mechanism obliges the NRA to make availability payments to the PPP company, which gives rise to an ongoing financial commitment annually from 2017 to 2041. As the Deputy is aware, the successful awarding of a major PPP contract involving private funding is challenging at any time but is particularly challenging in current circumstances where the country has been the subject of intervention by the IMF and the European Union. Despite this, every effort will continue to be made to progress this PPP within the timeframe of the current capital programme which runs to 2016.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State concurred with my point on the length of time it has taken to realise the project, given that the planning and design stage dates back to 2007. Approval was given by An Bord Pleanála for the Tuam bypass in August 2006 and a technical advisory consultant was appointed and commenced work in September 2007. The delay in proceeding with the project has been frustrating for people who live along the road and generally in the west. I hope the Minister of State will continue his discussions with the NRA to see whether approval can be given for the motorway project.

Suggestions have been made that funding could be forthcoming from investors in Europe. The Minister of State outlined there would not be a toll payable on the road, but media reports suggest otherwise and a toll plaza could be provided. Perhaps he might clarify whether there is to be a rethink on the matter? A toll plaza was not envisaged in the original proposal, but that was when the economic climate was better. I would be grateful if the Minister of State addressed the extra points I have made.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I accept the project has taken a considerable length of time. I know the value of such a road, as I am familiar with the area and the towns affected. I have been subject to delays there on many occasions in my current job and previous ones. The scheme is valuable, but, unfortunately, given the economic environment, as the Deputy is aware, funding is an issue. However, we are working with the NRA to consider every single avenue from a funding perspective. No stone will be left unturned to find a solution to the problem.

No change is envisaged on the issue of tolling. There is no plan to toll the road and no indication that there will be a change of mind in that regard. The economic logic behind such a proposal would not stand up to scrutiny.

It was suggested work on the 57 km stretch of road could be carried out on a phased basis, but I envisage the ultimate goal would be to complete the entire length, encompassing the towns to be bypassed, because the sum of the parts would be more valuable than any one part on its own and it would be of more benefit if the work was done in one go. As the Deputy is well aware, when that will be is something on which we will continue to work.