Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In fairness, it was brought to compulsory purchase order, CPO, stage many years ago. My point is that the road will not be built overnight, but can we get a priority commitment today that the Mallow bypass section of the motorway would be where it starts first? It covers a major interchange of the N72 and N73, for traffic heading east-west from Mitchelstown to Fermoy to Killarney in the west. With regard to previous comments, it might all sound like very good news. I read the articles in the press last week. However, this had gone beyond An Bord Pleanála previously. The rulings were made on the route and in regard to confirmed interchanges. The witness mentioned the delay with the appeal on Buttevant.

The general guideline for making submissions on motorways is five years. After all the work done to bring it to the planning stage six years ago could it be fast-tracked and the five years reduced to get to construction stage? TII must have seen the files, drawings and proposals. Plans in this area have been refused because it is the preferred route. Is it possible to drive ahead with this project in less than five years because work has been done on this route?