Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The road between Cork and Limerick is important and I understand that it is particularly important to Deputy O'Keeffe. It is included among a number of major national road schemes identified for development during the period of the national planning framework. Transport Infrastructure Ireland has provided an allocation of €2.15 million to Limerick City and County Council this year to advance planning and design work on the scheme. The council is currently procuring the appointment of technical advisers for the scheme. It is anticipated that this appointment will be made early this year.

The proposed project seeks to link the cities of Cork and Limerick with a high quality transport corridor, as Deputy O'Keeffe knows. The existing route is deficient in both safety and capacity. Agreement has been reached between the Limerick and Cork local authorities for Limerick to be the lead authority for this project. Limerick City and County Council will, therefore, need to assess all feasible options before a preferred route can be identified. The estimated cost of this project is €900 million.

We will co-operate with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in any way we can on the animals issue that Deputy O'Keeffe raised. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has set live animal checks and approved live animal hauliers and that is its business. Vehicles that transport live animals attract 100% inspections and compliance is high among approved hauliers.

I hope I have answered Deputy O'Keeffe's questions. We are going ahead with the Cork to Limerick road link. That is a commitment we intend to keep. We will have to look at it again if there are blockages or obstacles because the roads are inadequate.