Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the opportunity to raise an important issue for my constituency. It concerns the road coming into Adare, the N20 from Limerick to Kerry. The road into Adare has been named by AA Roadwatch as one of the country's worst in terms of traffic tailbacks. It appears in the list of seven of the county's slowest roads compiled by the Automobile Association based on its own experience and information from the Garda Síochána and bus companies. That is no surprise to the people of Adare, because tailbacks have been experienced for a number of years, which has caused delays for traffic coming into and leaving Adare. Last Monday, which was a bank holiday, there was a two-mile tailback coming into Adare from the Kerry side as a result of people returning from Kerry after the weekend. It happens both ways, but the problem is very serious at weekends, especially on Friday nights. It is no surprise to the people of Adare that it is on the list of the seven slowest areas compiled by the AA.

I wish to highlight a number of issues. Obviously, commuters going west experience great frustration. Many commuters who travel through Adare morning and evening are from the west of the county but work in the city. There is also a serious problem on the small country roads because of what are often referred to as rat-runs. A total of 133 people have signed a petition calling for a speed limit on those roads but the council is not prepared to concede that because it is not a 24-hour issue. There are serious concerns about the safety of children. At certain periods people cannot walk those roads because of the traffic going west avoiding Adare.

This has been a problem for almost 30 years. Several routes for a bypass have been identified over that period. We were extremely disappointed last autumn that An Bord Pleanála turned down the last route the council proposed, using the excuse that the motorway from Limerick to Cork is being delayed and it was to be part of that.

I am making the case for the bypassing of Adare, similar to the bypassing of many other towns. Castleisland is a recent example, but the bypassing of Adare stands on its own, so to speak. I would like to know how much this project has cost in terms of planning and other changes in the past 30 years. As the Minister of State is aware, Adare is a premier tourist product. It has been described as one of the prettiest villages in Ireland. There is a good deal of tourist activity in Adare, but that could be enhanced by the removal of the traffic from the village, which would facilitate more local traffic and more tourist traffic coming into the village.

I put the case for a bypass to the Minister of State. There are strong feelings about the issue in Adare. The demand for a bypass is supported by Limerick County Council. The Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, when he was in Adare, expressed his disappointment at the decision of An Bord Pleanála to turn down the plan. I ask the Minister to respond and give us some hope after almost 30 years that this bottleneck can be overcome.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to address this issue.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has responsibility for overall policy and funding regarding the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for the NRA, in accordance with section 19 of the Roads Act. Because of the national financial position, there have been very large reductions in roads expenditure over the past number of years and there will be further reductions in the next number of years.

The NRA has a budget of €318 million for improvement and maintenance works on the national roads network in 2013. The available funds do not match the amount of work required. For this reason, it is not possible to progress a range of worthwhile projects and the main focus must be on the maintenance and repair of roads. This will remain the position in the coming years. Only a small number of new PPP projects can be taken to the construction stage for now.

Pragmatically dealing with this reality, in early 2012 the Minister indicated to the NRA that it should withdraw its application to An Bord Pleanála for the M20 Cork to Limerick route. The Minister was concerned that to proceed any further with the scheme to build the M20 would have exposed the NRA to significant costs arising from the legal requirement to purchase the land if the CPO was approved. This would have to be done without the reasonable prospect of proceeding to construction stage quickly thereafter. To do this would have tied up large amounts of capital which could be better used elsewhere on the national network given the funding constraints.

Turning to the issue of the Adare bypass in particular, the position is that the N21 Adare bypass route was intended to run to the south of Adare and link with the Limerick-Cork route. The compulsory purchase order and environmental impact statement documentation were submitted to An Bord Pleanála for approval on 4 March 2010. On 18 October 2012, An Bord Pleanála made a decision to refuse the proposed road scheme to bypass Adare. Principally, although not exclusively, An Bord Pleanála's decision was based on the fact that the Adare bypass route would, in the board's words: "if permitted and constructed, constitute isolated infrastructure, would not represent a coherent approach to the provision of major roads infrastructure and, furthermore, would not have the potential to fulfil the functions envisaged for the scheme." The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

While I do not think anyone would argue that traffic is not an issue for the residents and businesses in Adare, An Bord Pleanála has made its decision and it is now for the NRA and the local authority to assess options open to them on the basis of that decision.

I understand from the NRA that it recently received a request from Limerick local authorities to authorise and fund the appointment of consultants to commence the planning process for a revised scheme to bypass Adare village. That request is currently being considered by the authority. It should be noted, however, in keeping with the provisions of the Roads Act 1993, the Minister is not directly involved in this assessment process.

With regard to the specific issue of the costs involved over the past 30 years, I do not have that figure off the top of my head. However, I will endeavour to get an assessment of the costs involved from the Department for the Deputy.

Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply, but it is disappointing. I urge the bodies involved, the NRA, the local authorities and the Department, to recognise this is a serious issue. There are many good plans for the development of the tourism product in Adare. Recently, a heritage destination strategic plan was launched by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, for Adare and it will establish the town as a leading heritage and cultural destination in County Limerick and the Shannon region, drawing on the inherent assets within the village and the wider area.

I contend that one of the limiting factors regarding the development of tourism in Adare is the fact there is a consistently high level of traffic going through Adare and that there is a constant tailback, particularly at busy times. The vision statement on the heritage destination plan states there is absolute determination, despite the difficulties experienced with implementing the plans for the bypass, that by 2018 Adare will become a "must see" destination, with a strong reputation among local, national and international visitors for delivering high quality heritage accommodation, retail activity and catering packages. By 2018, Adare will also act as a tourism hub from which visitors will be encouraged to explore the wider County Limerick and Shannon region through a series of touring trails, high quality information and imagery and joint packaging with other key assets, attractions and activities.

We are asking that everything be put in place to support this ambitious and viable plan. The basic product exists in Adare and the removal of heavy traffic from the village would provide serious support and assistance for the plan.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I appreciate Deputy Neville's concerns. I know Adare well and pass through it frequently. I admit it has serious traffic issues. I wish the NRA and the local authorities well in their endeavours to find a new route and look forward to progress on that. However, there are restrictions with regard to funding. The timeframe on that is not within my gift nor of that of the Department at this time. However, in the long term it is a project that is needed.

I am aware of the issues faced in the region as I am part of the same region. I live beside a place that has very similar issues in the context of traffic and tourism, Ballina-Killaloe. Therefore, I empathise with the Deputy. I will note his comments and ensure the Department gets back to him with regard to the volume of funding spent to date.