Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I commend the Minister. I have never seen such progress being made on improvements to our road infrastructure, although it was overdue. The fact that the work is on time and within cost is a credit to the Minister and the initiatives he has taken.

With regard to the M50, tolls are a satisfactory way of recouping the cost of road improvements. They should be on main arteries between our main centres of population but definitely not on bypasses such as the M50 and the Waterford bypass.

A second river crossing at New Ross is badly needed. The other day, I waited 45 minutes to get through the traffic there. People from different areas tell me that New Ross is the biggest bottleneck in the country. Anything that can be done to accelerate the second river crossing there would be welcome. Once the Waterford bypass has been completed we will have chaos there with traffic backed up to Glenmore.

The Minister will be familiar with the Fiddown-Piltown bypass, but the two plus one road system is a hazard and someone will be killed there. The two plus one concept should be abandoned in favour of a two plus two system. We should move towards dual carriageways where accidents are not taking place. That policy should be pursued and the NRA should be advised accordingly, if it is not of that mind.

Speed limits need to be reviewed across the country. The private administration of the speed limits is to be introduced but the limits in some areas have been set at artificially low levels simply as a status symbol for small rural locations. Those speed limits need to be re-examined. I am glad the Bill will provide for a system whereby dual carriageways can be upgraded to motorway standard. That is long overdue.