Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I join with other Members in welcoming the Minister of State to the House and I am delighted to have the opportunity to make some points in respect of the BMW region, particularly regarding the roll-out of the national development plan and future development plans.

This subject is so vast that Members should approach it by having separate debates on different aspects, such as the roll-out of transportation and education, as one could go on and on about so many different issues.

Being from the region, I have listened to much debate and commentary in the media in recent years regarding the underspend of some €3.9 billion there. Much mythology surrounds the commentary pertaining to that sum, such as the supposed fact that European funds, which were earmarked for the BMW region, have been or were being spent in the eastern or south-eastern regions. However, this cannot happen under the present regulations. The various European funds must be and will be spent by 2008. However, one cannot take funds which are earmarked for the south east and spend them in the BMW region. Similarly, one cannot take moneys which are earmarked for the BMW region and spend them in the south east. This is a simple fact and people should not delude themselves with diatribes to the effect that "our" moneys have been spent by "them" or vice versa.

As someone who comes from and lives in the region, I can state that an unprecedented amount has been done since November 1999, when as an unelected party, I attended a launch in the Sligo Park Hotel. It was very interesting and many matters which everyone thought were hare-brained have already come to fruition.

While I have spoken many times in this House on my frustration at the pace of developments, nevertheless, much has happened. One must also acknowledge that in the period 2000 to 2004, Dublin was made a priority in terms of public transportation infrastructure. It is essential and important for the vitality of the regions to have a functional and efficient capital city. Hence, that was understandable.

In recent years, there has been some catching up in this regard. One could consider the M4, as well as various bypasses and improvements which have been made. For example, in Senator Bannon's constituency in County Longford, the bypass of Edgeworthstown is imminent. I passed it this morning and it appears to be near completion. Moreover, the Bundoran to Ballyshannon bypass was recently completed, as was the Sligo inner relief road. Although the development of the latter took 30 years, that had much to do with local objections and indecision, rather than anything else. I understand the Department of Finance made the necessary funds available for the Carrick-on-Shannon and Sligo inner relief road bypasses in 1981. It then took 22 years to decide on routes.

Many other improvements have taken place across the entire range of the programme. One would require five or six debates to go through them in detail. After listening to the Minister's speech, it is clear that more is to come. There has been an underspend, in many cases under the same operational programmes, in both the south-eastern and BMW regions. Hence, the underspend is not limited to the BMW region. However, there has been an underspend in respect of transportation, due to the prioritisation of Dublin and of design within the BMW region. This is now coming to fruition and some catching up is under way. I have mentioned some projects and the Minister mentioned several others.

Coming from the region, I must state that while much has been done, there is much more to be done. I am uncertain whether we are thinking sufficiently ambitiously in respect of the BMW region or, to use terms from the national spatial strategy, in respect of new gateways. Are we considering the factors which keep happy those who already live there, or who may live there, given current trends? Are we seriously considering the creation of viable alternatives to Dublin? After one M50, metro or Luas line has been completed, another will be required.

It is good that after many years, Dublin is being brought up to the requisite standard. However, do we want to make Sligo an alternative to Dublin? Do we want to make the gateway hub of the triangulation of towns, namely, Tullamore, Athlone and Mullingar, a viable alternative to Dublin, whereby major industry can be attracted? The anticipated population growth in the coming years is approximately 1 million people, 800,000 of whom are expected to seek to locate in Dublin. We must think on a larger scale.

For example, I will localise this issue further, to a region within the BMW region. There remains no university in the north west region, north of a line from Dublin to Galway and west of Mullingar, nor are there plans to found one. There are excellent institutes of technology. However, Members still await the appearance of the institutes of technology Bill before this House. It will give them further autonomy, which will allow them to seek the kind of research and development projects which, as the Minister mentioned, they were unable to do heretofore. This explains why there is an underspend in this regard in the region. Again, the Minister spoke about the gene vector core facility at NUI, Galway, which is focused on Galway.

There is no connection to the national gas grid in the region. Last week we had a debate on that matter in the House. We will now have another feasibility study which will tell us it will require Government subvention to bring the gas national grid up to standard. I can tell people the outcome right now and the Minister of State should take note. For several years we have heard Government announcements that gas would be supplied to Sligo and the north-west region. I would like to see some definite dates and for us to move ahead apace. Bord Gáis will claim it has been instructed by Government to undertake a feasibility study and a result is expected in 2007. However, this is not good enough. We know we need gas in the region and as we have a supply of gas off the coast, we should go ahead and do it.

Cancer services is a very important issue in Donegal and Sligo. Access to such services is not an aspiration or pie in the sky, it is a civil right. I have been told it is all about linear accelerators and that it costs money for the equipment, technicians, radiotherapists, etc. This is not a request for that region, it is a basic civil human right as far as we are concerned. The lives and the care of the people in the north-west region are no less important than those of people elsewhere. Let us make the necessary arrangements to implement this as a matter of urgency. This is not undue criticism, it is a constructive suggestion. I acknowledge that much has been done in a wide variety of areas. However, more needs to be done and we need to increase the pace and think somewhat bigger in general.

For example, I have mentioned the sub-region, north of a line from Dublin to Galway and west of Mullingar, which does not have a yard of motorway. We probably have the best connection from Dublin in the country and I am not complaining about that. However, we need to think bigger. In his speech the Minister for Finance mentioned the next development plan. Let us see an aspiration in that plan to improve the road network.

The Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill was mentioned on the Order of Business. On Second Stage I mentioned that in that sub-region critical infrastructure may also include tourist amenities which may give further viability to the region and provide employment. It may be as critical to our region as a road to a different part of the country. Today An Bord Pleanála overturned the decision of Roscommon County Council to allow a very large tourism development. This was a private development in which I have no interest per se. However, that kind of facility whether undertaken by the State or the private sector, would be very beneficial. I acknowledge Senator O'Toole's support in the matter. When such a refusal is announced, there should be a responsibility to indicate why it would not work and outline an alternative that might achieve the same ends. Working towards that objective would be much appreciated.

Broadband is a critical issue as are regional airports. Communications and physical access are very important. I support Senator O'Toole in seeking to enhance all measures regarding both of those. The airports at Carrickfinn, County Donegal, and in Sligo and Knock are vital. The Minister for Finance was here earlier and I am sure he has gone directly to Knock Airport to celebrate at 7.45 p.m. the airport's 20th year of operation. It is appropriate to acknowledge that milestone in the House. More investment is needed in all airports down as far as Shannon.

Regarding West on Track, we need an announcement on the rail link from Claremorris to Sligo. It is not acceptable simply to say that we have fenced it off and cut the grass. I am not saying it should happen tomorrow. However, let us announce a realistic deadline that the line will be operational by 2011, which will allow me to get the Rosslare train from Sligo, just as a friend of mine from Enniscorthy who lives in Sligo refers to the N4 as being "out the Enniscorthy road". Similarly let us see the train from Sligo going through Galway and all the way to Rosslare. The reopening of the track up to Claremorris has already been announced. Let us begin to think somewhat bigger. If Sligo is a gateway, let us push on apace to provide it with the relevant infrastructure and services to allow it play its part in being an alternative to Dublin, given the population increase expected in coming years.