Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and thank her for her presentation and engagement with the committee. With regard to some critical roads projects, the Minister of State referred to the Coonagh-Knockalisheen distributor road. That is phase 1 of the northern distributor roads project. I welcome the progress made on phase 1 but phase 2 is of critical importance to the mid-west region. It is of strategic importance to business, to ease congestion within Limerick. It will also open access to the University of Limerick and facilitate its further expansion. The Minister of State may not be aware but there is a proposal to establish a strategic development zone on the grounds of the University of Limerick. This project is of considerable importance and it should be included in the capital plan being put together, which will be in place for a number of years. I am aware that Clare County Council is driving this project in conjunction with the Limerick local authorities. Will the Minister of State give some comfort relating to that project? If she does not have the information today, she might come back to me about it.

There has been much development work at the Killaloe bypass and Shannon bridge crossing, which the Minister of State might give an update on.