Rosslare Europort is one of Ireland's most important pieces of infrastructure, particularly in the context of Brexit. In the early 1900s, the British constructed Rosslare Port having identified its strategic location as being the most accessible and closest in terms of distance to mainland Europe and the UK. Despite its strategic importance, successive Governments have failed or neglected to make proper investment in this country's most strategic port. Politicians holding senior political posts in various Governments flooded poorly located ports with millions of euro, all in the interests of political personal gain. Foynes, Cork and Dublin ports have all been beneficiaries of that strategy, to the detriment of Rosslare. Government politicians representing the constituency of Wexford have, for decades, engaged in the PR stunt of advocating the case for the investment at Rosslare Europort while privately, within their own political circles in Dublin, accepting that no such investment will ever happen because of the red herring of the ownership issue.

Since the advent of Brexit, traffic at the port has increased by in excess of 450%. We are all still at level 5 lockdown, which we hope will end soon, but there has been traffic congestion in Wexford, particularly in Oilgate. However, when we get to the summer months and the level 5 lockdown restrictions abate, from Rosslare to Oilgate will undoubtedly be more congested and that will inevitably cause delays. On Monday in the Seanad, a Fianna Fáil Senator asked a Fine Gael junior Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, for a timeline on the completion of the M11 motorway from Oilgate to Rosslare Europort. The Minister of State indicated a timeline of eight to 13 years depending on the availability of funding. In light of the consequences of Brexit, such a timeline is completely unacceptable. We need less of the PR babble and more action. What is needed is for someone to take this combined scheme by the scruff of the neck, complete the M11 from Oilgate to Rosslare and upgrade the infrastructure of Rosslare Europort to facilitate Ireland's import and export trade. The State has engaged professionals on two occasions to decide the route of the motorway, costing taxpayers double what it ought to have cost.

Has the Government no foresight? It took the arrival of Brexit for it to realise that Rosslare Europort is Ireland's most valuable and neglected piece of infrastructure, yet not one shilling has been forthcoming. There has been a 450% increase in traffic at the port since 1 January. The whole industry knew that would materialise, with the exception, it seems, of those in the Department of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and others who compiled the Irish Maritime Development Office, IMDO, report. Where is the Government's leadership? Where is the foresight that will see Rosslare as the country's main offshore wind farm and construction port? We need leadership and decision making, to be followed by the money.

I agree with Deputy Verona Murphy that we need more balanced regional development. The national planning framework is a guideline for much of the work I do as Minister for Transport. It is critical to get more balanced regional development. If I recall correctly, approximately 97% roll-on, roll-off traffic comes through Dublin Port. That is an imbalance we need to address. I had a very good meeting with representatives of Foynes Port yesterday. They are looking at the potential development of container business from the port, which might rebalance things.

I absolutely agree with the Deputy that Rosslare Europort will have a critical role of strategic importance for the State, particularly because of Brexit, in terms of both the increasing travel directly to the Continent and the ongoing use of the land bridge from Wexford to the Welsh coast. First and foremost, I recognise that the staff and management of Rosslare Harbour have done a remarkable job. They have facilitated a significant increase in the number of sailings from the port and in the volume of output, particularly in recent months as a result of Brexit and the changing circumstances, and they have managed that in a way that no one could have expected. The Deputy is correct that, historically, there has been insufficient investment in Rosslare Europort. That is something we are now seeking to change. Various development prospects are being considered, including the significant development of the port as a centre for the roll-out of offshore wind industry, which offers significant potential for this country. That also may be the case for other ports. We will have to go very quickly through a process of assessing what type of investment is made and in which location, but I believe Rosslare Europort could provide an ideal location for such development.

A rail review is currently being carried out or started by the Government. That has to be included in looking at the future development of Rosslare. We need to look at the likes of the Wexford rail line and the now disused connection from Wexford to Waterford to see whether that could be a way of enhancing economic activity and social life in the south east. However, the Deputy is correct that we also need to improve road access to Rosslare Europort in light of its increasing strategic importance to the State. It takes time to build roads, which involves route selection, the planning process and procurement. There is also the issue of cost. The sections of motorway, dual carriageway or other national road which we are delivering do not come cheap. That said, I confirm to the Deputy that it is my view that it is one of the strategic areas in which we need to invest. We need to ensure we have the best possible connectivity to the Continent and other markets, including the UK. Rosslare will have a central part in that. Addressing this issue may well include consideration of the ownership issues of which the Deputy is aware. She mentioned the history in that regard. We may need to look at that as one of the elements we need to get right in the future management of Rosslare Europort.

I thank the Minister. I hope the ownership issue will be the last thing at which he looks because it is the least relevant. He stated that nobody could have expected the figures to grow exponentially from 1 January but I repeat that everybody in the industry expected that the figures would grow in that way. The only people who did not expect it, it appears, were those in the IMDO. I am glad to hear the Minister confirm that he is looking at this issue but a decision is needed imminently. There is a requirement for immediate funding of a few million euro to get this process under way and to determine that Rosslare Europort will be the construction base for the new wind farm projects that are about to be undertaken. We do not have time to spare in that regard. We have a small window in which to prepare for that; otherwise we will lose the opportunity forever. I do not accept that that can happen to Rosslare this time around.

The Minister spoke about balanced regional development. There has been absolutely no such balance up to now.

It is time that the Government sees the strategic importance of Rosslare Europort, puts its money where its mouth is and invests in the port. It will take a number of years to get us to a point where we can offer the infrastructure required in any port in this country so I ask the Minister to make the most strategic decision.

I remember visiting the port in Rosslare 17 or 18 years ago when the first offshore wind farm was being built. The blades and turbines were deployed from Rosslare Harbour. It seems that the port has many of the characteristics we will need, considering the significant investment we are going to make in the Irish Sea and Celtic Sea areas. We expect an auction system early next year. Prior to that, it is critical that we get the Marine Planning and Development Management Bill through this House in order that we can set up the necessary systems. The Deputy is right that there is a tight timeline involved. The Government must act quickly and it will do so. We will make sure that the investments are in place to facilitate development, subject to proper environmental checks. It may not necessarily or exclusively happen in Rosslare because we must look at the variety of port options and different ports come with different options. We will make the best choice for the economic and environmental development of this country.