An Taoiseach Brian Cowen has promised to look again at national roads projects with a view to applying scarce funds to where they are most urgently required.
At a meeting in Dublin last week he told a group of leading Mayo industrialists that future road projects under Transport 21 would be put on hold pending a cost-benefit analysis.
Deputy Beverley Flynn, who arranged the meeting, said that the Taoiseach had given careful attention to the submission made by the group in outlining the problems they faced because of the poor condition of the N5 between Mayo and Longford.
“The Taoiseach told us that he has committed to a suspension of future road projects pending a rigorous cost-benefit analysis of all proposed road projects. The Mayo deputation spelled out for him the cost implications of transporting finished products from Ballina, Castlebar, and Westport to Dublin for onward distribution to mainland Europe,” she said.
“They explained that the jobs of 9,000 people were dependent on cost-effective production and distribution and they made the point that to bring the N5 up to a required standard would need an investment of €220m, the equivalent of eight months of the tax contribution of the Mayo industries.”
Dep Flynn said that the Mayo Industries Group — representing Allergan, Baxter, Hollister, Ballina Beverages, and Killala Precision — has been campaigning for 12 years for an improved N5 between Mayo and Longford.
“The flagged rethink on national roads projects offers some hope that the N5 will be given the priority it badly needs,” she added.
“It is likely that the proposed cost-benefit analysis will be carried out by independent consultants and I am convinced that the vital importance to Mayo jobs and Mayo industry of a modern, up-to-date, road link to Dublin will be reflected in any cost-benefit findings,” she said.
