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

The road is the R556 regional road from Tralee to Ballyduff. The section of road from Ballinclogher Cross to Abbeydorney is built on a bog rampart, which has number of undulations. Minor works have been carried out over the past five years, most recently in 2014, to the worst section of the road. A full reconstruction is required to adequately improve the poor riding quality and thus safety of this carriageway. A 2.5 km section of the road north of Ballinclogher Cross was improved in 2009 under a specific improvement grant at a cost of approximately €3 million. Similar grant funding is required to address the 2.2 km section of the road south of Ballinclogher Cross. The specific improvement grant funding available to Kerry County Council for this scheme was suspended in 2014. A limited amount of funding was provided in 2014 and 2015 to complete outstanding projects where construction works were ongoing. The reconstruction of the roadway south of Ballinclogher Cross to Rathscannell will require a specific funding mechanism from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. That is the specific grant that is required for that road.