Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the significant funding recently announced for transport and roads projects in County Longford. I also welcome the progress on the N4 project from Mullingar to Rooskey through Longford, which was taken off the capital plan in 2010 after a preferred route had been identified. It is a critical piece of infrastructure for not just Longford and the midlands but the entire north west. There is much concern, however, that the process has to go back to start again with 12 alternative routes put out for public consultation. These include routes on which people have built houses and agricultural sheds over the past several years. It is causing great concern to people in the local areas affected.

A major concern for me is the fact that we cannot have any public information sessions. As a public representative, we would have meetings on this in local halls and so forth. That cannot be done in the current climate and we cannot go to people's houses. Will an extension of at least a couple of months be considered?

I welcome the Minister's influence, as well as that of the Green Party, to provide more funding for walking and cycling infrastructure with routes to towns, businesses and especially to schools. Councillor Gerry Hagan is working for a link from the village of Ennybegs to the local national school with over 300 pupils. Longford County Council has put forward this proposal and I will be looking for support for it.

Next month sees the launch of the Royal Canal greenway, a project in which I was involved from the beginning.It will be a fantastic asset, as the longest greenway in the country.

I also served on the board of Longford Westmeath Community Transport for six years and put forward a project for a bus link service in Longford town. It is needed to reduce the amount of traffic around the town. I would welcome the support of the Minister for those projects.