Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the motion proposed by Senator Minihan. The Minister in his address to the Dáil explained the circumstances surrounding this budget. He mentioned that the economic situation was not as favourable as in other years and used the word "moderate" to describe the changes he had made. I welcome his address and I am glad he put emphasis on the roads issue, one of the most important facing us. There is a very good programme in place and, though there have been delays, I hope it can be rolled out. The Minister put great emphasis on public-private partnerships. I hope he and the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, will be able to achieve much on the programme in coming years.

I want to make a particular case for towns that have sought bypasses. I have said before in the House that bypasses should be looked at as stand-alone projects. Loughrea, for example, should not have to wait for the entire road from Ballinasloe to Galway to be laid before it gets a bypass as one of the main bottlenecks. The same is true of Ennis and other towns. Bypasses should be provided immediately for the towns in question instead of waiting for a huge stretch of road to be finished.