Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I ask the officials to picture a small, picturesque village with a population of 600 through which in excess of 20,000 vehicles, including heavy goods vehicles, thunder every week. People have to see it to believe it. Trying to cross the road in the middle of the village of Julianstown involves taking one's life in one's hands. It is like trying to cross an extremely busy dual carriageway. It is almost impossible.

Meath County Council has submitted the business case for the project. Mr. Mullaney stated: "At preliminary appraisal, the local authority application needs to demonstrate sufficient analysis to underpin an assessment of the merits or otherwise of the scheme." The Department received the business case in December last. Based on that business case, has the local authority demonstrated exactly what the Department would call for in a preliminary appraisal? Has it demonstrated the merits of the case for a bypass?