Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I second Senator Bacik's proposed amendment to the Order of Business to facilitate a debate on dredging for cockles in the Waterford Estuary, an area with a tradition of cockle picking where people are seriously concerned about the estuary's conservation. I fully support Senator Bacik's concerns in this regard.

The policy of the National Roads Authority on the provision of service and rest stations on national primary routes is a matter of national importance from a road safety perspective. The provision of such facilities on new motorways was not mentioned until 2005 when, in fairness to the then Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, he directed the National Roads Authority to review its policy on the matter. Following this review, proposals were made to provide rest stations on new motorways and dual carriageways. However, significant deficits persist on other national primary routes, notably the N25 from Cork to Rosslare which has no facilities to allow heavy goods vehicles or large articulated trucks to pull in for a rest period. Under EU law, the drivers of such vehicles are required to take rest periods at specific intervals. Truck drivers and other travellers have no access to basic facilities such as toilets or restaurants.

The National Roads Authority does not have a policy on the provision of service and rest stations on national primary routes and many local authorities are also silent on the issue. Heavy goods vehicles illegally pull in on the hard shoulder of these roads and the Garda traffic corps turns a blind eye to the practice because proper facilities are not available to drivers. This is unacceptable. I call for the provision of basic facilities and services on national primary routes for members of the travelling public. I am sure the Leader will agree the Minister for Transport and the Marine must come before the House for an urgent debate on this matter.