Seanad debates

Thursday, 7 November 2002

Adjournment Matters. - Roads Projects.

 

Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I had expected that the Minister for Transport would be in the House to respond to this matter. However, I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy John Browne, whom I have known for many years. Due to his name being the same as that of my father, some Wexford tickets for an all Ireland final were sent to our home address in County Carlow on one occasion. I assume our first names will ensure any such confusion is avoided in future.

Photo of John BrowneJohn Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Perhaps the Senator will get Carlow tickets in future.

Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Carlow will, I hope, get to an all Ireland final.

In commenting on the national roads programme one cannot ignore the grim fact that some 1,500 people have lost their lives in road accidents over the past four years. There have been rumours of cutbacks in the expenditure of Departments, including a shortfall of €6.8 billion in the roads building programme. The Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, is reported to have set his sights on the Department of Transport and, apparently, plans to cut the allocation of €1.5 billion for next year, even though this figure is already inadequate in the context of the huge rate of inflation in the construction sector. Any cutback would have a severe impact on the start of new projects and the completion of existing ones.

Can the Minister explain the reason for the high level of inflation in motorway construction? The budget for the national roads programme has increased from €4.97 billion to over €9 billion. This is a very worrying trend, especially since no new roads are being built. Twenty six projects have started this year while 21 have completed the statutory approval process and are still awaiting funding. Cutbacks have been mentioned in relation to the Dundalk western, Monaghan, Castleblaney and Cashel bypasses, the Castleisland to Abbeyfeale road and the Kinsale Road interchange. There is also great confusion in relation to funding for motorway projects, with mention of public-private partnerships and the possibility of the national pension reserve fund.

The Minister for Transport should set out realistic time-frames for projects. This has been done in relation to the Northern Ireland peace talks and should also apply to road projects. Instead of hugely ambitious overall road plans for the entire country, the Minister should concentrate on four or five major projects and, having completed them, move on to deal with other roads. Millions are being spent on designing roads which may never be built. This is a waste of taxpayer's money.

The National Roads Authority needs to be made far more accountable. There is a lack of clarity as to the respective roles of the NRA and the Department of Transport, with inquiries being referred from one to the other and neither taking responsibility. The relevance of the Houses of the Oireachtas in this matter should be recognised. While the NRA must be allowed to do its work, we should be in a position to obtain answers to relevant questions. I understand the NRA employs over 90 staff. I would like to know the exact number and the total annual cost to the taxpayer. Paying staff when roads are being built is one matter, but it is a waste of taxpayer's money to pay them for designing roads which will never be built. This should be reviewed.

I note the Progressive Democrats Senators have left the House and perhaps understand the reason for this. During the general election campaign that party played on both sides of the fence in relation to motorway projects. In particular, Senator Dardis questioned the need for motorways and gave an assurance in the national media that the Progressive Democrats, in government, would not provide taxpayer's money for a motorway that was not affordable. That is in complete contradiction of what has happened in the meantime. I and many others would like to hear from the Progressive Democrats – Senator John Dardis in particular – the reason they issued that statement before the general election, but have not done anything about it subsequently – or have they?

I congratulate the Minister for Transport on introducing a penalty points system which is already having an effect on our roads. However, I am concerned by media reports that the Department of Transport intends to pass on information to insurance companies or, at least, to ask motorists to sign consent forms to allow the Department to pass on such information in relation to penalty points incurred. Insurance companies will use this information to increase premiums rather than rewarding safer driving. It is purely a profit exercise for them.

Photo of Pat MoylanPat Moylan (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Senator should not make accusations concerning individuals outside the House. I also remind him that it is not the practice to refer to Senators absent from the House and that Members should be referred to as Senator, not by their Christian names.

Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I apologise. I thought I had used the title.

Transport is a huge area to which the issues of decentralisation and national spatial strategy are closely linked. Unfortunately, development has been allowed to proceed in a manner which has resulted in gridlock every day on the roads in Dublin and elsewhere in the country. A fresh look is needed in relation to motorways in terms of the wisdom of pumping money into motorways at the expense of regional and secondary roads which are neglected. Will international construction firms be employed to build new motorways? I suspect this may be the case, which obviously would not be good for Irish business. If the Minister of State is not in a position to answer that question now, I ask him to convey my concern to the Minister for Transport. It is a somewhat ironic contrast with the inadequate transport system in this country that many of the transport systems in other countries were built by Irish emigrants.

Photo of John BrowneJohn Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank Senator Fergal Browne for his kind words and wish him well during his term as a Senator. He should not despair of Carlow winning an All Ireland final, but be encouraged by the experience of Offaly in winning a few All Ireland titles after a lapse of many years.

The national development plan, NDP, provides for an investment programme of €6.7 billion in the upgrading of the national roads network over the period 2000-06. The detailed programming of the work involved and the planning, design and implementation of individual road projects are matters for the NRA in conjunction with local authorities. Overall, good progress has been made in the implementation of the programme. Over €1 billion, the highest allocation ever and nearly twice the level of funding in 1999, is being provided for the NRA in 2002 for the improvement and maintenance of national roads.

Exchequer investment over the period 2000-02 will be approximately €2.6 billion, more than 12% in excess of that promised under the NDP. This has funded the completion of 15 major schemes, involving approximately 106 km of roadway in 2001, including such major projects as Dunleer-Dundalk, MI; southern cross route, M50; Croom bypass, N20; Kilmacthomas bypass, N25; and Blackpool bypass, N20, to mention just a few. There is ongoing work this year on 20 major projects with a combined length of over 200 km, including work on the M1-N1, Cloghran-Balbriggan and Drogheda bypass; Dublin port tunnel; N4, Celbridge interchange; N7, Kildare bypass; Watergrasshill bypass; Limerick southern ring road; N17, Knock-Claremorris phase two; N18, Newmarket-on-Fergus bypass; N22, Ballincollig bypass; N25, Youghal bypass, and the M50, south eastern motorway.

Good progress is being made in the roll-out of the NRA's PPP programme. Four projects, Kilcock-Kinnegad, the Waterford city bypass, the Dundalk Western bypass and the Fermoy bypass are at tender stage. Good progress has been made in the planning and design of other projects, including the selection of preferred route corridors for the five major inter-urban routes.

In relation to the five main inter-urban routes, it should be noted that while only 30 km of roadway have been fully completed a further 64 km are under construction and 617 km are at planning and design stage. The M1 route will be completed to motorway standard to south of Dundalk next year.

It is acknowledged that the cost of the national roads programme has increased for a range of reasons, including land costs and construction cost inflation. The benefits of substantial capital allocations to NDP projects by the Government have consequently been eroded to an extent. However, the rate of construction price inflation is now abating from a peak of 12% per annum over the period 1998 to 2000 to 9% in 2001 and a projected 5% in 2002. The Minister expects that this trend will continue in 2003. This will assist in achieving greater output for our investment.

Completion of the NDP programme will be dependent on funding levels and the prevailing budgetary and economic situation over the coming years. The Government is committed to strong promotion of the NDP national roads programme and to maintaining a high level of investment in the national roads network.

We are in the third year of a major seven year programme which is flexible enough to accommodate changing circumstances, including the economic and budgetary situation. In a programme of this size there is bound to be some slippage in progress due to factors specific to individual projects or issues such as the dispute last year about access to land, the foot and mouth restrictions, higher costs than originally anticipated and the funding requirements of projects in construction.

The programme is progressing well and the Government is committed, as will be clear from the historically large level of investment, to maintaining high levels of investment in the upgrading of the national roads network. I will ask my officials to write to the Senator about the queries he raised.