Dáil debates

Thursday, 18 June 2015

Topical Issue Debate

Road Projects Status

5:55 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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This subject is dear to the hearts of all Deputies in County Kildare, north and south, and I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me the opportunity to raise it once again. It is a matter of huge importance for alleviating the traffic chaos that currently exists in this location. It will also serve to address the problem of accidents, of which there have been many in the last couple of years due to over-crowding on the motorway. There is an under-capacity in the road network to meet the traffic challenges.

Everybody is aware of the chaos that existed at Newlands Cross for many years. People said that the overall problem would not be solved if the situation at Newlands Cross was dealt with but would only be moved further into the city or down the country. That was not true. The problem was solved in a dramatic way. The same applies to the Naas and Newbridge bypass, the Newhall interchange and the Sallins bypass. Each is a critical element in the alleviation of the traffic chaos that currently exists.

Obviously, it is the busiest motorway in the country and is probably the busiest of the motorways in a number of countries. In addition, the demands of Kerry Foods are coming on stream. It is located immediately adjacent to the motorway. The company is very concerned about the extra traffic generated by its development which will have to be facilitated. It is a prime industry that has moved to the area in recent times and it must be facilitated in so far as possible. Similarly, on a recent trip back from Cork late at night I counted 190 trucks travelling in the opposite direction. At various times of the day, and the transport business really gets going in the evenings, the number of heavy vehicles on the motorway multiplies dramatically.

I am aware that the Minister is faced with competing demands, but this demand is not simply local. It is also a regional demand. It will facilitate the traffic going between the city and County Kildare and Cork, Limerick and Waterford. The traffic chaos that has been a feature in the area in the past couple of years is generated by two factors. The first is volume, for which the motorway was not originally intended to cater, and the second is the increased traffic generated by business in the area. We are delighted to have the business and investment, which are hugely important for employment. However, it is equally important, now that the investment has occurred, that we put in place the necessary ancillary facilities to ensure its effective and efficient operation.

The Minister is well aware of the case I am making. It has been brought to his attention by all representatives from County Kildare in the past year or so. It is a priority issue for Kildare County Council and for businesses in the area. It would be of huge benefit for both heavy vehicular traffic and domestic traffic in the area if it could be found possible to approve the projects concerned. They are all intrinsic to the area and equally important. When approved, they will have a dramatic impact on easing traffic flows.

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this matter. I have had the opportunity to respond to him about this on a number of occasions. It is a matter he is pursuing very strongly on behalf of his constituents and all of the employers in the area. As he has acknowledged, the project has significance beyond County Kildare and his constituency. Indeed, some of my constituents have raised the issue with me because it has a significant impact on one's ability to get up and down an important road in our region.

I also appreciate the Deputy's comments about the big changes that were made at Newlands Cross. It has had an effect on the ability of commuters to get through an important junction in our road network. I commend everybody involved in it because the project came in below budget and on time.

The Deputy is fully aware of my role in regard to the projects. While I am responsible for policy on these matters, it is the National Roads Authority that makes decisions, in consultation with local authorities, on particular projects. The Osberstown interchange and Sallins bypass fall within the remit of the local authority in the area. Works on these roads are funded from the local authority's own resources, supplemented by funding made available by the State. The Naas bypass widening is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Act 1993.

The Deputy is well aware of the financial circumstances we have come through and has spoken about them many times. In 2008, funding for local, national and regional roads stood at €2.3 billion. This year, there is €730 million. That said, however, I am very aware that the projects the Deputy is raising, and which Deputy Wall has raised with me on a number of occasions, have very considerable merit. They are interconnected but would have a significant total cost.

The objective of the Naas bypass widening scheme is to increase capacity and improve traffic flow on a national road, the Dublin-Cork road. The interchange and Sallins bypass projects are both intended to increase connectivity between the same road and the towns of Naas and Sallins. I am very much aware of the job creation potential that exists, particularly considering the Kerry Group premises near Millennium Park and the work that is under way there. Unfortunately, because of the continuing financial challenges the country faces, we are in a constrained position regarding the number of new projects that can be progressed. I do not have funding available to make progress on the projects under discussion but I assure the Deputy that I am very much aware of their importance. I am very much aware of their importance to the Deputy’s county and what they could do to promote job creation. I face considerable pressure to try to deliver particular projects across the country. I assure the Deputy that I am fully aware of the regional and national significance of the projects in question. The Deputy has emphasised that very clearly to me here this evening.

6:05 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his very comprehensive reply. He clearly understands the significance and importance of the projects concerned and their likely benefit to County Kildare and the country at large.

With regard to the Sallins bypass, at rush hour the traffic from Monread is jammed as far as Sallins. On a Friday evening, it is impossible to get in or out of the area. We anticipated this some years ago, obviously, but the downturn in the economy meant developments that should have happened did not happen. We accept the constraints within which the Minister must operate but I believe it would be strategically and economically beneficial if he could indicate as soon as possible whether it is intended to make the necessary approvals in respect of the entire package. Although the projects are different, they are inter-related and integrated, and they benefit one another. The projects are expensive; we accept that. However, it is important to recognise that the impact of the projects will be felt nationally, not just locally. The Minister has acknowledged that.

There has been significant investment in the area, for which we are very grateful and acknowledge readily because not every part of the country has been as lucky. Given the investment that has been made and the job creation, it is important that we respond positively by providing the required infrastructure. The infrastructure is vital and I ask the Minister to use all his influence to ensure the projects will be approved at the earliest possible opportunity.

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I fully take on board the points the Deputy has made to me. I made a point of responding to the Deputy myself because I genuinely accept the merit of these projects extends beyond the Deputy's county as they would have an effect on the region overall. The Deputy correctly stated the projects would need to be carried out in an integrated manner because, if they were carried out in isolation, there could be negative consequences for the communities in the area and for the operation of the roads. Therefore, we need to find a way to make progress on the projects together.

The combined total cost of the projects, if they were to go ahead together, would be approximately €110 million. I am sure this is comparable to the amount of private sector investment that has taken place in businesses and business parks in the area. That said, I take the Deputy's point on the beneficial effect the projects could have. I accord to them very high priority among all the competing demands in the Deputy's constituency and the rest of the country in terms of transport and others factors. I acknowledge that the projects could have a very beneficial role in terms of connectivity and job creation. I assure the Deputy that I recognise the projects' merit and I am working on determining how progress on such projects could be made.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his response and for attending.

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Which Minister is responding to Deputy McEntee?

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Education and Skills has agreed to postpone my Topical Issue matter until next Wednesday.

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Is that agreed? Agreed.