Seanad debates
Thursday, 21 November 2002
Book of Estimates, 2003: Statements.
The cuts in the roads programme are particularly to be regretted. As the Minister knows, it has taken a number of years to get it up and running. The planning phase, which we under-financed for so many years, had just been completed, with a whole range of projects through the planning stage. The route selection process took longer than we thought it would and in some cases proved to be quite controversial. In a number of cases there were tolling schemes that had to be settled with public inquiries and so on. It has taken two and a half to three years to get to where we are now and it is remarkable that having got through the whole process, in order that we are in a position to get a few projects started, the money has suddenly dried up and we cannot do it. If we could postpone the projects for a year or two, that would be fine, but I am not convinced we can.
No comments