Vol. 438 No. 5
8 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment if financial allocation will be made in the context of the Operational Programme, National Development Plan, 1994-1999, for the construction of a by-pass at Thomastown, County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Negotiations are in train with the EU on the next Community Support Framework and related operational programmes. The Operational Programme on Transport, when agreed with the Commission, will be the framework for transport investment strategy, including the strategy for national roads, for the years 1994-99. When agreement has been reached with the Commission, it will be a matter for the National Roads Authority to decide the allocation of funds for individual projects within the strategic framework set out in the agreed programme.
Will the Minister agree that Thomastown is a very important urban intersection in a strategic location, servicing the large volume of vehicular traffic from Dublin to Waterford, particularly to the new port of Waterford; that it is also an important intersection for traffic travelling to and from the ports of Rosslare and New Ross and is used by a considerable number of tourists who traverse the south east to the west? In that context, and because the provision of a bypass of this town is such an important project — will the Minister give the House a commitment that it will form a part of the Operational Programme on Transport for 1994 to 1999?
I agree that Thomastown is a very important place and a very beautiful one. As the Deputy will be aware, since assuming office, I have given priority to the Callan by-pass since the representations from Kilkenny seemed to accord priority to it, to which I responded. I know that Kilkenny County Council recently sought funds for both the N9 and N10 over the period of the programme of approximately £63 million, which seems to be quite optimistic. We shall have to await the result of the Operational Programme on Transport to ascertain where priorities lie. Nonetheless I will do what I can to advance the project the Deputy requested.
A commitment to the Callan by-pass project was given by his predecessor, the now famous Commissioner, Pádraig Flynn, under the programme from 1989 to 1992, but it has not yet commenced. I hope that will not be a precedent for the Minister's lack of activity on this latest project. Indeed, a Cheann Comhairle, you know Thomastown very well and appreciate the importance of what I say in relation to this matter, that its narrow streets are damaged and that business people and those who live in the town endure considerable daily hardship. I implore the Minister to ensure that this project is given top priority for funding in County Kilkenny in the 1994 to 1999 operational Programme on Transport.
Deputy Hogan conveniently forgets that, when the former Minister for the Environment cleared the Callan by-pass, there were considerable local difficulties; I think there were something in the region of 350 objections, all of which were met. I am making provision in 1994 to enable that work to commence.
The only problem is that Fianna Fáil promised it in the run-up to the last general election but did not deliver.
