In the latest draft of the Limerick Shannon metropolitan area transport strategy, phase 2 of the northern distributor road is not included. The National Transport Authority was before the transport committee recently and stated that it would be in the revised draft. It has now informed us that it is not in the revised draft because of a direct intervention from the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, who wrote to the NTA and directed it not to include it. Is that correct? The northern distributor road, phase 2, is very important. Phase 1 is from Coonagh to Knockalisheen. We had that debate and thankfully it is proceeding. Why did the Minister make that intervention? Phase 2 of the northern distributor road is very important. Even the national development plan states that local authorities can bring forward important road infrastructure projects to deal with particular safety and access issues. That is what phase 2 of the northern distributor road is doing.

The NTA is correct in what it said at the committee yesterday. Going back to what I said earlier about visits around the country, I visited Clare County Council and Limerick County Council and was very open and public in giving the reasons I believe the strategic development of Limerick is in the centre, in the existing county and the centre of the city. There is real risk to Limerick if it spreads, alternatively, into Clare, on a roads based development model. As I said earlier on in respect of the national planning framework, we want to develop compact development on sustainable transport modes.

Did the Minister write to the NTA?

"Yes" is the answer. I also believe it is important for the likes of Ennis and Clare to develop, not as an adjunct sprawl out from Limerick but to see strong towns in Clare and a strong city in Limerick developing. That is why I believe the northern distributor road is not the right way to go. Public transport in Limerick is the way to go.