Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, to the House. I support in principle the motion moved by Senator O'Toole. I believe agreement can be found and I hope the Government will allow that to happen by accepting a way forward.

The daily capacity of the N3 as originally envisaged was approximately 11,600 cars, but approximately 21,700 cars are travelling on it each day and that will increase to almost 40,000 cars by 2024. If the road cannot cope with the present number of cars, it will not be able to cope with the increased numbers over the next ten years. Most people acknowledge that something has to be done to improve the road. I estimate that 90% of people favour the construction of a new road in some shape or form. Most of those who are protesting against the planned route are in favour of the construction of a new motorway. Previous speakers have referred to the inconvenience that has been caused to the people of County Meath and those who pass through that county. Many problems are encountered each day in towns like Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells as a result of traffic jams. The many cars which travel through such towns when going to and from Dublin each day eventually end up in a mass backlog.

Senator Ross and others have rightly asked whether the development of the railway line between Navan and Dublin has been considered. If it has been considered, should the State not acquire the necessary land at the same time as it is acquiring the land for the motorway? The National Roads Authority is often praised at various meetings for the tremendous work it does throughout the country to provide a national primary and secondary roads network. Secondary routes do not receive the same level of funding as primary routes, in most cases. Is there a need for three motorways within a 30-mile radius of each other? I refer to the existing M1, N2 to Derry and N3 routes. Is it possible to develop the N2 and the N3 as a single motorway? Has that been considered? What is the position? If it has been examined, has the possibility of providing a rail link between Navan and Dublin been considered as part of that process? Over 30,000 people live in Navan, but it has been suggested that its population will increase to approximately 60,000 in the next few years. It is obvious, therefore, that a railway line to the capital city will be required. Such a line would work wonders for the present roads network.

Great emphasis has been placed on the cost of building new roads. Many people are objecting to the proposed M3 route on the basis of its cost. The last paragraph of the Government's amendment to the motion calls on the Seanad to emphasise "the importance of public private partnerships in harnessing the necessary skills and finance to support the earlier completion of the Government's ambitious national road infrastructure targets." The proposed M3 will be a public private partnership. We all know that PPPs involve private investment and toll roads. If a PPP contract is signed in this case, the private investors who will be recouped by means of tolls will not deviate from the route that has been agreed. If the NRA, which I assume will be the procurement agency in this case, agrees a specific route with the private investors, does the Minister of State agree that there will be no further movement in that regard?

If the route cannot be changed after the public private partnership process has been set in motion, we will have to crash everybody's heads together to agree on a route that is satisfactory to most people. As I said earlier, 90% of people agree that a better route, which bypasses most of the towns in County Meath which are on the N3, is needed. Businesses in Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells, which are jammed with backlogs of traffic each morning and evening, have been badly affected by the failure to complete the new route. I am sure the chambers of commerce and local authorities in such towns would welcome being bypassed by a new route to Dublin.

Has the National Roads Authority examined the possibility of combining the N2 and the N3 as a single route? The Kilcock bypass on the western route, which is being developed under a public private partnership, will serve the N4, N5 and N6, which pass through counties such as Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Leitrim, Longford and Westmeath. Three or four national primary routes come together to approach Dublin as a single motorway. Has such a system been considered in this case? It seems to me that there will be three major motorways — the M1, the planned M2 and the planned M3 — within 30 miles of each other in County Meath. What will happen when the roads eventually enter Dublin? Where will the traffic go? Traffic will approach Dublin at great speed from three roads that come from the same direction, but what will happen then?

I have already asked whether a rail route has been considered. If it is a possibility, has it been discussed by the National Roads Authority and Iarnród Éireann? Has the Government reflected on the possibility of providing a rail route as well as upgrading the motorway? The issues are important in so far as they relate to the infrastructure of the country as a whole. As I have said, I do not have a problem supporting the principle of the motion. At least 90% of people are in favour of the development of a motorway in the County Meath region. We can find a solution to this problem, but the Government needs to bring everybody together to find it.