Government criticised over infrastructure delays

ALTHOUGH the Government’s central promise to establish a Department of Transport has been fulfilled, criticism of its infrastructure and traffic plans has been rife in recent months.

In its manifesto, the Government promised "an integrated transport policy, designed as far as possible to overcome existing delays, bottlenecks and congestion, and to provide alternative choice by alternative modes of transport".

But in reaction to yesterday's progress report, Labour leader Pat Rabbitte accused the Government of worrying far too much about PR-based reports than actually getting their election promises fulfilled.

"If they only tackled the National Development Plan with the same gusto as these reports," he said.

The National Development Plan (NDP) the Government's central plan for developing the nation's infrastructure is cited time and time again in yesterday's report.

However, even the Government admits the delivery of roads promised under the NDP is behind schedule.

"Due to the increased cost of the programme overall, some projects will take longer to implement than originally envisaged," the report states.

But the success of the plan suffered a major setback at the weekend when the Institution of Engineers in Ireland's (IEI) mid-term review found that many NDP projects were running seven years behind schedule.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said it was unacceptable that after three years of a six-year plan have elapsed, the delivery schedule was up to seven years behind target.

Pat Rabbitte said the IEI report painted a sorry picture of a country adrift and a Government incapable of taking the key decisions required.

Other infrastructural commitments such as the strategic rail review published in April have also been criticised, for placing the emphasis of rail development on existing lines, and ruling out the western rail corridor completely.