Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte den Aire Stáit. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am very pleased that the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, is dealing with this matter.

I am a member of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications. Last week the committee heard a submission from Mr. Fred Barry, the chief executive of the National Roads Authority, and its officials. In the course of the exchanges with all members relating to various roads projects, either up and running, dormant or planned, I asked a number of specific questions relating to the N16 in Leitrim. The Minister of State will be familiar with this road because it is a link from Galway through Mayo, Sligo, Enniskillen and on to Belfast. The N16 was originally on the national league study published with the first NRA report in 1999. At that time it was indicated that it could be 2018 before any money would be spent on it. A further national transport plan for 2020 was published in 2005 which also set out various aspirations relating to the development of our road network. Over the past years there has been a growth in the development of our road network which has proved to be very important for economic renewal. However, the N16 has languished. Very little money has been spent on it. It should be noted that it is a major trading route as well as a tourism route because it links the major centres of Galway through Mayo, Sligo and on to the North.

I asked Mr. Barry about the plans for the N16 and where it figured on the list. He conceded that the state of the road was unacceptable. He also agreed that it had been bounced around over the various studies, aspirations and policy decisions of the past 15 years. More significant, I asked him about the position of the N16 on a list of priority projects - if such a list of priorities existed. I assumed, naively, that a list existed. I asked a rather innocent question as to the position of the N16 on the list. Mr. Barry replied that there was no list. I said it seemed strange that the NRA does not have a list of priorities for roads projects, notwithstanding the Government is tied for money and capital projects are limited. For example, the Gort to Tuam road is proceeding and this is to be welcomed. Mr. Barry justified the information on the basis that because the NRA had no money, there was not much point in having a list. I decided the best action was to ask the Minister if his Department had a list. How does the process work? What would be the position of any road - not just the N16 - be it in Mayo or Leitrim, on the list of priorities? Is it a case that a project is proceeded with around budget time or when there is a bit of money in the coffers? How does the NRA decide? No more than a prisoner who wants to know his release date, I would like to have some idea of whether it will be ten, 15 or 20 years. I asked Mr. Barry the question in an attempt to elicit a response. I did not anticipate that the Minister or his Department would say that the N16 is No. 5 on the list and it will be completed by 2020. However, I am hoping there might be some bit of information from a Department that is not, I have to say, traditionally known for giving away too many secrets, no matter who is in government.