Senator John Dardis has said the PDs in government will not provide funding for the building of the proposed M9 motorway from Dublin to Waterford, in an apparent reversal of the position taken by the Tánaiste just two months ago.
In an article in The Nationalist newspaper, the PD candidate for Kildare South said the proposed new motorway would be "a waste of money". He said it might have been affordable at the height of the economic boom, "it certainly is not now".
His statement contrasts with the position taken just two months ago by the Tánaiste Ms Harney who said on a visit to Waterford that the Dublin-Waterford motorway or dual carriageway would be built without delay.
The N9, linking the capital to the south-east, is one of six major corridors identified for upgrading to motorway standard in the National Development Plan. She said the upgrading of the N9 would not happen overnight. "But it will happen on target and on time, and the resources will be provided."
Senator Dardis has proposed a more moderate upgrading of the existing road, and a spokesman said last night that this would be party policy in the PD election manifesto. He said there should be "bypasses of major towns such as Castledermot and Carlow".
Senator Dardis said last night that he agreed there should be good access to Waterford, but believed a high quality road short of motorway standard would be sufficient.The projected traffic for the road did not justify the spending of €1 billion on it as proposed, he said.
"The Progressive Democrats in government will not provide taxpayers money for a motorway that is not affordable. Even with the Celtic Tiger roaring, the country could not afford an M9 motorway. It most certainly cannot now."