Speech by the Taoiseach at the Official Opening of the M7/M8

The M7/M8 Portlaoise-Cullahill/Castletown scheme is a key element in our national roads infrastructure. I am delighted to be here today to perform the official opening of this long awaited, vitally important section of roadway.

In the midst of the current economic downturn, it is important to keep in mind that there are also many positive things happening in our country. Today's event is a good example. It signifies the completion of Ireland’s third major interurban route - the Dublin to Cork corridor - and represents a further step towards the completion of the Dublin to Limerick interurban route.

The Scheme

I understand that 18,000 vehicles a day will use this new road, removing significant volumes of traffic from Mountrath, Borris-in-Ossory, Abbeyleix, Durrow and Cullahill. After we cut the ribbon today, these towns will be able to breathe freely again and local residents and businesses will reap the benefits.

The new road scheme will reduce the driving time on the Dublin to Cork stretch by an average of 45 minutes at peak times, providing an average journey time of two hours and twenty minutes. Many would have found that hard to imagine just a few years ago.

Crucially, the new road will significantly improve accessibility within the region and between surrounding regions, improving competitiveness and fostering more balanced regional development. It will also ensure that the Midlands, South and Mid-West have greater connectivity to Dublin, the East and the North. This will in turn facilitate increased economic growth and prosperity.

Public Private Partnerships

This is the seventh Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme to be completed on the national road network. Like its predecessors, it has been delivered within budget and significantly ahead of schedule - a full four months in this case - highlighting once again the value of PPPs. Most of the projects in the current PPP roads programme are now open to traffic, while the remaining three are scheduled for completion this year.

The PPP Roads programme is contributing over €2 billion in additional investment in the period up to the end of 2010, which is particularly welcome in the current fiscal climate.

Roads Investment

More than €1.4 billion will be spent this year on enhancements to national, regional and local road infrastructure. This investment provides a much-needed fiscal stimulus around the country. It also helps to maintain thousands of jobs.

Under Transport 21, the focus up to the end of 2010 is on the completion of the major interurban routes and the M50 Upgrade. Following today's opening, there are only two major interurban routes now to be completed -

the N7 to Limerick and the N9 to Waterford. These routes are well advanced and on target to be completed by the end of this year and will be a real source of strength once our current economic difficulties ease - as they undoubtedly will.

The delivery of these major interurban routes has had a major influence on the steady - and very welcome - decline in recent years in the number of road-related deaths. Of course, driver behaviour also has a huge role to play. I would urge all those who use this motorway and indeed all Irish motorists to drive with due care and attention and with respect for other road users.

Conclusion

In closing, I would like to thank:

- the contractors, Celtic Roads Group and Portlaoise Joint Venture;

- Arup Consulting Engineers; and

- the NRA and the local authorities and everybody who had a role - big or small - in bringing this project to a successful conclusion.

The completion of the link between two of our country's most economically important cities is an important achievement. You can all be very proud of yourselves.