Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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4. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason he decided to refuse the proposed motorway between counties Cork and Limerick, in view of the fact that the National Roads Authority has identified the project as one of the country’s priority road investments. [23836/15]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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This follows the announcement made by the Minister that he was not going to proceed with a project to have a motorway between Cork and Limerick. Given that it was a priority for the National Roads Authority, will he outline why he has decided to shelve the project at this time?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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​As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding for the national roads programme.  The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects, including the M20, are matters for the National Roads Authority, NRA, under the Roads Acts. 1993 to 2007, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.  Given the national financial position, there have been very large reductions in roads expenditure in the past few years.  The reality is that the available funds do not match the amount of work which could be undertaken.  For this reason, it has not been possible to progress a range of worthwhile projects and the main focus has had to be on the maintenance and repair of roads.

In 2011 my predecessor indicated to the NRA that it should withdraw its application to An Bord Pleanála for the M20 Cork to Limerick route. I understand the then Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, was concerned that proceeding any further with the scheme to build the M20 would have exposed the NRA to significant costs arising from a consequent requirement to purchase the compulsorily purchased land within a limited timeframe.  This would have had to be done without the reasonable prospect of proceeding to construction stage quickly.  Unfortunately, there is no escaping the reality that road budgets have reduced radically in recent years and will most likely remain tight for the next few years. Given the scale of this project, at an estimated cost in excess of €800 million, I am not in a position to review the decision​. I am, however, continuing to examine if there is any possibility of alleviating some of the bottlenecks on the existing N20, although this will only be possible if funding is made available for said projects. Furthermore, my continued preference is to use certain funds available to maintain the existing network, rather than build new roads that we would then have the responsibility to maintain into the future.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The current connection between Limerick and Cork is an appalling stretch of road. It stretches for 80 km and the proposed motorway would significantly cut the travelling time between the two locations.

It would also reduce congestion in towns and the number of deaths and injuries that take place on that stretch of road which is a connection between the second and third largest cities in the State. As the Minister is well aware, 25% of Ireland's economic activity is generated in the mid-west and south-west regions. Limerick and Cork alone account for about one third of the population outside Dublin. Limerick and the mid-west region generally are recognised as attractive locations in which to invest and do business. Unfortunately, without the appropriate infrastructure between the two cities, it becomes unattractive to do so from an investment point of view, on top of protecting what is in place and reducing the numbers of deaths and injuries on the roads. If the Government is to do anything more than pay lip-service to the notion of having balanced regional development, it is appropriate that this funding be set aside to invest in the regions. That would allow people to live, work and remain in them, rather than crowding everybody into the Dublin region. Infrastructure needs to be provided. Why not try to be a little more balanced in how the funding is spent?

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The total cost of the project is in excess of €800 million. The land cost alone will be approximately €100 million. Deputy Catherine Murphy spoke about this issue earlier. The total cost of delivering all of the projects we discussed is just over €100 million. The main challenge I face in a project of this scale is that funding cannot be secured; we are instead trying to progress projects the length and breadth of the country which make a contribution to road safety and support the ability of communities to get to and from work and around the country safely. I want this project to go ahead at some point in the future, but there is a lack of funding. If the Deputy is committed to the project, perhaps he might tell me where he would secure the €800 million required to deliver it, while also delivering all of the other Government projects he supports.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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It comes back to what one fundamentally believes in. If one's view is that infrastructure will only be provided in certain sections on the east coast, investment will be concentrated on the east coast, people will move there and the Minister's burden of responsibility will increase in providing infrastructure after the event. It is no surprise that Kerry Group, to which Deputy Catherine Murphy referred, located in Naas because the infrastructure was available. This is creating a further intolerable burden on existing infrastructure which needs further investment. If one was to invest in the regions, Kerry Group might locate in Munster, rather than finding it necessary to locate in Naas. I am not suggesting this is the only reason it is based there, but we need to be serious about providing for balanced regional development. I want to see development take place on the east coast and it is right that it does, but it has to be balanced against the future growth of the regions, if the Government is serious about providing for this. The appropriate approach to take is to invest and further investment will follow.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to providing for balanced regional development, which is why we have invested in tourism and made great progress in attracting foreign direct investment in many parts of the country. We appreciate the need for investment and employment to be generated across the island. On the contribution of transport, we are continuing to support the maintainenance of the local and regional road network. I go back to the original point I made to the Deputy, namely, this is a project that will cost in excess of €800 million. As much as I want to see a project like it happen, my challenge is to find funding for it and, if it is available, to ask whether it could be spent in other ways that would deliver balanced regional development and improve the ability of commuters and residents to get around the country. I have to note that I asked the Deputy the simple question of where he would secure the €800 million necessary, while supporting everything else the Government was doing. He was not able to answer that question.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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When I have access to the Minister's Department, I will gladly provide him with the answer.