Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will raise an issue around the national development plan, NDP, and key projects in road infrastructure that are committed to by the three parties in Government. The NDP cannot be undermined by any one single member of Government or one party. I refer specifically to the N17 Knock to Collooney road which is due to be upgraded. It is a treacherous stretch of road. There are parts of that national route that have an 80 km speed limit because it is so treacherous. The road is long overdue an upgrade. This will cost in the region of €600 million. That is a commitment in the NDP and is committed to by all parties in Government. Unfortunately, when he visited Sligo last week, the Minster for Transport took it upon himself to say that money would not be available for a very long time. Having spoken to my party colleagues and the Minister of State at the Department, I want to make it very clear that is not a decision that can be taken by any one Minister. It is a Government decision to fund and progress that project in the NDP. This has upset many communities who use the route, which connects Galway, Mayo and Sligo. It is very important road infrastructure. While we are all very supportive of public transport and getting people out of cars, we simply do not have alternative transport options in rural Ireland and will not have them for some time.

We also want to progress rail links in the region but that seems to be delayed by the same Department. The N17 road project is very important. I would like clarification from the Minister that funding will be made available when it is needed to allow work on the road to progress at a reasonable pace and not be left for years to come.

I will raise another issue that comes under the remit of the same Department. The all-island rail review was commissioned in 2021. Many rail organisations have been demanding it but we are still awaiting its publication. We anticipate that the western rail corridor will be provided for in the report and that it will recommend the reopening of the Athenry to Claremorris rail link. This will be very important for the region in connecting Mayo with Galway city. There is a somewhat ridiculous element to this issue. As this is an all-island review, the absence of a working government in the North has delayed publication of the document until now. Officials responsible have said they are willing to look at publishing the elements of the report that relate solely to the Republic. I respectfully ask the officials and the Minister for Transport to get on with it and publish the elements of the report they can publish so that we can get working on these important capital infrastructure projects for the west and north west. As usual, these regions are lagging behind on this key infrastructure.