Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the opportunity to raise this issue by way of Topical Issue debate. While the meaning of the word "topical" means "current" this matter has been, regrettably, ongoing since the 1990s and even prior to then. During the time of the boom and the so-called Celtic tiger when up to €13 billion was invested in road upgrade works throughout the country west Cork was, for some reason, left behind. I am raising this issue today to ensure focus of it on the agenda and to ensure it is addressed.

In 2008, I was chairman of the western committee of Cork County Council and led a delegation of my colleagues at the time to the National Roads Authority offices where we sought assurances from the NRA that it would prioritise the upgrade of the N71. However, the Ireland of 2008 was very different from the Ireland of today. Unfortunately, west Cork remains in the same position with little or no investment in the N71 project. The survival of west Cork into the future is dependent on investment. While job numbers in Cork are increasing, many of the jobs being created there are located in Cork city. To ensure a vibrant future for west Cork, business must be able to grow and create jobs. To ensure this, west Cork must be accessible. Unfortunately, the rail line in the area was closed many decades ago, access by sea was closed off following the closure of part of the Cork-Swansea route and airport numbers have been stagnant or reducing over the past ten years. The only access to west Cork is via the N71. It is the only road into and out of west Cork.

I want the Government to make the upgrade of the N71 a political priority so as to ensure the survival and future of west Cork. I expect that the Minister of State, Deputy Kelly, will in his response cite section 19 of the Roads Act and the changes thereto which transferred to the NRA the function of decision making in regard to road upgrade works.

Will the Minister of State clarify what role we have as elected representatives when it comes to ensuring what constitutes a priority for the National Roads Authority? I am aware of the standard answers I have been getting from the Minister heretofore in respect of what input we can have, but I am keen for some further clarity. As elected Members we decide what taxes are to be collected. Then we go out and stand over the unpopular decisions like property taxes and so on. I am keen for more accountability from the State agencies which are spending this money. We should have more of an input into the priorities afforded by these moneys.

Will the Minister of State clarify why, over the 2000 to 2009 period, the NRA spent €13 billion? This was the subject of a Private Members' motion in November 2009 moved by Deputy Fergus O'Dowd calling for more accountability from the NRA. During this period of vast investment, why was west Cork not on the radar of the authority? The last serious investment in west Cork began in 1998 when 1.1 km of single carriageway was built around the town of Skibbereen. Since then there has been absolutely zero investment other than for maintenance on the N71, but no effort whatsoever has been made to upgrade it. I call on the Minister of State to get clarity on why there was no investment in the N71 during that period.

Will the Minister of State give me an understanding and an undertaking that, at the least, the upgrade of the N71 in west Cork will be a political priority? Regrettably, previous Administrations chose, for whatever reason, not to have the upgrade of the N71 as a political priority. I could take great comfort if the Minister of State would give an assurance that it will become a political priority for this Administration.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I thank Deputy Daly for raising this Topical Issue matter, which I will be answering on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar. The Government's policy in respect of the funding of capital projects to 2016, including the development of road links, is set out in the Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-2016: Medium Term Exchequer Framework document. Due to the overall reduction in funding for transport infrastructure, the priority until 2016 is to protect investment made to date and to maintain safety standards. I imagine everyone appreciates that this should be a priority.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, has overall responsibility for policy and funding in respect of the national roads programme. As the Deputy has correctly pointed out, the planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the NRA under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Furthermore, within the NRA capital budget the assessment and prioritisation of individual national roads projects such as the N71 is a matter for the NRA in the first instance in accordance with section 19 of the Roads Act.

Given the heavily reduced budgets in transport, the priority now for Exchequer funds must be maintenance of the existing network, and this is of itself a struggle. Other than several public private partnership projects which are being progressed under the Government's July 2012 stimulus package, no major Exchequer-funded projects are scheduled to go to construction in the coming years. The NRA has a budget of €155.9 million for improvement and maintenance works on the national roads network in 2014. The reality is that the available funds do not match the amount of work required, and this is regrettable. For this reason it is not possible to progress a range of worthwhile projects. Overall, the NRA has allocated in excess of €12 million to Cork County Council in 2014 for various national road projects and works. These projects include €15,000 under the minor works programme for a pedestrian crossing on the N71 in Bandon and €450,000 for pavement and minor works on the N71 from the abbey to the square in Bantry. While this is the case for now, funding constraints mean that the development of routes such as the N71 has had to be deferred, although the improvement of national routes remains a longer-term objective of the Government.

As regards future funding under the next capital programme, the aim will be to develop a balanced package of measures covering infrastructure maintenance, safety schemes and targeted development projects throughout the transport sector for inclusion in the next capital programme. Of course the actual composition of such a package will depend on the level of funding available. Deputy Daly has asked several questions in this regard and I will bring all those questions to the Department and the NRA.

I know the N71 well, as the Deputy is aware, and I have had to traverse it many times. I take on board the Deputy's points in respect of Cork, funding by the NRA throughout the previous decade and the level of funding that went to Cork vis-à-vis other place by comparison. They are fair points and I will reflect them to the Department and the NRA. If Deputy Daly does not get an answer from the NRA within a couple of weeks, he should come back to me because I will be putting the question to them on Deputy Daly's behalf, as requested.

Deputy Daly suggested the matter should be a political priority but it is a matter for the Minister, Deputy Varadkar. However, I will ensure the Minister gets to know Deputy Daly's concerns on the issue. Responsibility for this issue lies with the NRA and the prioritising of projects lies with the NRA as well. Having said that, the NRA is responsible to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and has to take on board the Department's and the Minister's thinking. Therefore, I encourage Deputy Daly to continue his campaign for the N71. It is not the first time he has raised the matter. I congratulate Deputy Daly on continually raising it because it is a road that needs work.

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House and taking the issue. He has shown a good and clear understanding of the issue. I appreciate that he knows the road and that he understands the frustrations of those of us in the area. It is a single carriageway route into the heart of west Cork. We are reliant on visitors and tourists. We are also reliant on investment, like every other area.

It is frustrating when I tell the people that in the times of plenty there was no development of the road and no progress made. The year 1998 was the last time there was progress when 1.1 km of carriageway was upgraded, but since then there has been absolutely no investment. It is not right or proper that I, as a public representative with a mandate from the people, should go back to the people I have the honour of representing and put it to them that, unfortunately, it is the NRA which decides where the money goes and that it is at the mercy of the authority whether the people of west Cork get a decent road. I am their public representative and, as I said in my original contribution, I am the person who has gone out and supported all the measures, many of them unpopular, to raise and increase taxes to get our finances right. I appreciate that our finances are still in a perilous state and that although we are out of the grasp of the troika, we still do not have autonomy over what we can do. However, as we start to move to the area where capital budgets will improve and increase, I am keen to get an assurance from the Department, the Minister and the NRA that the N71 will become a priority and that the wrongs of the past two decades under successive Governments can be righted. I am keen for the people of west Cork to be given an assurance that as moneys come to play and to hand, the N71 will be a priority for an upgrade to ensure the survival of west Cork.

There are competing needs on the road. Cyclists lead the charge some days and are followed by cars, buses or lorries. There can be tractors as well and all these vehicles on the single carriageway can hold up the entire area. It is most frustrating and it is time we ensured there were improvements. I appreciate that the Minister of State will take on board my concerns. I will continue to liaise with the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, as well. I appreciate the Minister of State taking the matter to the Department and the NRA on my behalf and I will be grateful for any answers I get.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The Deputy has raised this issue on several occasions and he has been right to do so. I know the road well. I am familiar with some parts of the Deputy's constituency. As Deputy Daly knows only too well, I often visit Gorteen in Bantry. The NRA has responsibility. However, I take on board the Deputy's well-made point on the prioritisation of projects and the role of the NRA vis-à-vis the Department. Deputy Daly's point is absolutely right in respect of the changes that have had to be made from a taxation point of view. Taxpayers get frustrated, something I know only too well in respect of Tipperary. I will raise the issue with the NRA. However, in the short term, as Deputy Daly is aware, there will be no solution. However, there will be a capital programme in the years to come. Who knows what the position of road projects will be and, if there are to be roads projects, how they will be prioritised. I will refer all these matters to the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, who has responsibility for the roads programme.