Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the national development plan. Amidst all the debate about roads and rail projects, I understand the Leader has invited the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to attend the House to discuss the national development plan as it relates to transport. I certainly welcome that.

One of the projects mentioned in the plan is the bypass for Moycullen. I am pleased to report a contract of a value in the mid €30 millions has been awarded to Wills Brothers for the development of the Moycullen bypass in my community. This is great news for a community that has been hearing about and listening to talk about a bypass going back to the 1970s. It is really a red letter day to see a project going ahead to construction in the coming weeks. It has been a long-running saga. The first phase commenced in 2014 and the then Minister, Deputy Varadkar, sanctioned the upgrade of the road into Moycullen. Like any project, and particularly where there is traffic passing by as construction goes ahead, it was not without difficulty or complaint but I am thankful it turned out as a wonderful project.

The original bypass and upgrade was sanctioned in 2012 with respect to planning permission and it has been a long-running saga in getting to this stage, involving pre-qualification tenders, tender assessment and tender award. The letter of acceptance is to be issued to Wills Brothers for this 4.3 km bypass, with two entrance points at either side of Moycullen at Clydagh and Drimcong, both via roundabouts, with improved lighting in the area and realignment of the Tullykyne road between the church in Moycullen and down towards the business park and the Cloghaun junction. It is all very positive for my community so I put it on record in the midst of all the questions about future projects and all that. It is important to acknowledge the successful endeavours as well. Also on the NDP, one of the issues I have been pushing is in relation to amenities and facilities, in particular, community centres. I welcome the fact there is a commitment for a community centre fund, albeit it for upgrade of community centres. That is positive but it is for existing community centres. There is still no fund for new communities - a fund of scale. Small communities probably find it easier, which is ironic, because there is a lower population. Very often a field might be donated to them or they can get money through the LEADER programme or whatever else whereas for large, growing communities where land is zoned and expensive, there is no fund to which they can apply for a few million euro, plus they must try to negotiate or work with the local authority on rates or the development contributions to get things going. I have pleaded for something. There has to be an opportunity there because we encourage people to support housing projects and to welcome new houses, which we need, and yet the infrastructure piece in terms of amenities and community centres is not always there. I would welcome a debate on the NDP in regard to that.