Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We recognise that we have a valuable outfit in Castleisland under the stewardship of Paul Neary and others. We are very grateful for their expertise and knowledge over the years and we want to recognise that. They are a powerful unit.

The witnesses said that the Killarney bypass has been suspended because there are financial constraints in the country. There were two parts to that project, the first from Farranfore, bypassing Killarney town and on to the N22. There was another section going from Lissivigeen across to the Muckross road. If that scheme could be halved, that would only be about a quarter of the total cost of the entire Killarney bypass. That would mean an awful lot to the town of Killarney, which is choked in the summertime. As the witnesses will appreciate, traffic coming from the south west, from Waterville, Sneem and Kenmare, must go through the centre of Killarney town to go to other parts of the country, like Tralee, for example. They have no business whatsoever going into the town of Killarney, and likewise when they are going back. It has the effect of choking the town. While we are grateful for and appreciate so much business in Killarney, traders are afraid that people will get annoyed about being parked on the Muckross road for an hour to an hour and a half and will go to other places and other towns throughout the country.