The Minister, Deputy Brennan, and I wish to see a safe and efficient road network which we recognise is a key ingredient for continued economic success, more balanced regional development and enhanced levels of personal mobility. In response to the long-standing and well-recognised deficiencies in the national road network, the national development plan provided for a major increase in investment in upgrading the national roads network. Exchequer spending on the national roads improvement programme this year will amount to over €1.2 billion which is the highest ever level. Investment in the period 2000-03 will amount to €3.823 billion which exceeds by approximately 13% the figure forecast in the national development plan.