Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

I join Senators in calling for a debate in the House on the national transport network. There seems to be some confusion about the tolling of the M50. It would be important to have such a debate here. Those who have suggested that the toll on the M50 should be ended are worried about the impact that would have on the roll-out of the roads programme. The toll in question should be maintained to pay for the upgrade work, thereby allowing the Government to continue to invest in the various transport networks throughout the country. If there is gridlock on the M50, that does not mean people in the rest of Ireland should suffer. There is gridlock in many provincial towns throughout the country, such as Ennis. The problems there are about to be resolved, thankfully, as the Ennis bypass is about to be opened. Further work is required on the western seaboard to develop a proper road network along the Atlantic corridor. When such a network has been delivered and developed, it will be possible for international companies like Google to invest in the west of Ireland. We should have a debate on this matter because it is timely and important for problems in other parts of the country to be highlighted. While the problems on the M50 are often in the headlines, the various problems of gridlock in rural Ireland do not tend to make the newspapers, unfortunately. Members of this House have an opportunity to make such points, thankfully.