It is imperative that the Government invests in the economy, especially the key infrastructural projects which are essential if we want to keep moving and remain competitive internationally. Dublin and Cork are the two major cities and economic centres and yet, eight decades after independence we do not have a proper road running between the two of them. We are quite literally kilometres behind the rest of the European Union in terms of transport infrastructure. We are beginning to make progress. Record sums of money are going into the National Roads Authority which is responding to the challenge. The next three years will see a transformation of our national road system. The motorway link from Dublin to Dundalk has been completed. The Kilcock-Kinnegad motorway project, a vital part of in the Dublin-Galway link, will be open in three years and with the completion of the Kildare and Monasterevin bypass projects we will have a continuous stretch of motorway and dual carriageway between Dublin and Portlaoise by early 2006. These will be impressive achievements. They will bring badly needed relief to road users around the country and improve the quality of life significantly in the towns which are being bypassed. We must keep the pace of investment going. We need to keep moving on the national roads programme if we are going to provide this country with the kind of infrastructure and transport system which it needs.