I have a letter here from Margaret Egan of Ardfinnan community council. It concerns a troubled bridge over tranquil waters in the village of Ardfinnan. The Tánaiste came to see it two years ago and gave great hope. The county council appointed Roughan and O'Donovan consultants to do an appraisal of it. They suggested a new separate freestanding walkway for the safety of pedestrians. This was the safest option. The Tánaiste told them - I was there listening to him - that they should get funding under the active travel fund. He had a lot of pomp about it and a ceremony with aplomb. However, now the National Transport Authority, NTA, has rejected the proposal, which was paid for by taxpayers' money. The amount of money spent on consultants' reports would nearly build a bridge at this stage and here we are now with a negative. It has been removed from the 2023 roads programme with the NTA. It has just abolished it and we are left still with a one-way system, which is unsafe, with dangerous temporary lights. The Tánaiste saw it himself. I am appealing for sanity here. An independent report was commissioned and a safe bridge was suggested, but the NTA has removed it from its consideration.

The Deputy is correct. I am sure he would agree with me that Councillor Micheál Anglim has been a very strong and proactive advocate for this.

Many people have been.

I say that to be fair to Councillor Anglim. I went down to Ardfinnan. An external review took place. The NTA should approve this separate proposal, given that the independent review said this was the best way to go. I have spoken with the Minister in respect of this as well. I believe there has to be a balance and a proper response from national agencies as well. This is very unsafe. It is unacceptably unsafe for school children and young people. Sometimes, we have to do things outside of the box. The external review came forward with a separate bridge proposal under the active travel fund. I see nothing wrong with it and the authorities should proceed with it.