Jim McDaid (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Paddy Burke for raising this issue. I am well aware of the road between Castlebar and Westport as I worked in Castlebar hospital for a time and lived in Westport.

Since the Department of Transport was established we have spent €1.2 billion per year on the national routes. I am from the west and I realise that the BMW region has lagged behind. Of the €1.2 billion, more than €300 million will be spent in the BMW region, which is a 60% increase on the previous year. In other words, there has been a 60% increase this year in the National Roads Authority allocation to the BMW region over the previous year. I agree with the Senator that we have to catch up. The planning, design and implementation of the national roads programme is a matter for the National Roads Authority and the local authority, which in this case is Mayo County Council. I am informed that the current position on the N5 Westport-Castlebar project is that the overall length of the scheme is 15 km with an estimated cost of approximately €58.37 million. The preferred route was identified in January 2001.

The necessary preliminary design and preparation of statutory documentation, which the Senator mentioned, are nearing completion, for which the 2004 allocation is €230,000. The allocations for 2002-03 amounted to €1.024 million. The NRA is reviewing the roads programme in light of the Government's decision to provide funding of €1.2 billion per annum over the remainder of the national development plan programme. The NRA will keep this project under review so that it will progress to the next phase at the first available opportunity.

On behalf of the Department, I was delighted yesterday that the roads infrastructure programme has been taken out of overall Government spending. Our infrastructure lags behind but as a result of that decision, we will not be hindered in our efforts to spend more in the coming years.