Mr. Dominic Mullaney:

I refer to the questions raised on roads. The first relates to Moyross and the Limerick northern distributor road. While Moyross could act as the first phase of such a road, they were separate schemes. Moyross was designed and approved back in 2011 or so. It has now gotten approval to go to construction. The other northern distributor road is at a much earlier stage and it needs to await the outcome of the ongoing Limerick metropolitan transport study. It will give sight of whether a roads or a public transport solution or some combination is needed in terms of the line protected in the development plan. It is at a much earlier stage. It is important for Moyross to proceed at this time and the other one will continue through the ongoing consultation process.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, has different phases for projects. The M20 is considered as phase 2. Consultants are appointed for phases 1 to 4. Consultants have been appointed for the M20. They are at phase 2 which is the options selection phase. Obviously, it involves ongoing consultations. The most up to date estimate, any new information coming to hand and the option expected to be chosen have to be checked in terms of the national development plan, NDP, review of these projects. It has not gotten to that point yet.

As the Deputy rightly said, a preliminary contract of approximately €1 million was approved for the Killaloe bypass. Early works have been carried out and fencing works are ongoing. Once that and the contract documentation are completed, I expect the council to seek approval to go to tender. It has not gotten to that stage yet. However, there is no indication the project will not go to tender. It will be confirmed, or otherwise, in the NDP review but it is well advanced and the expectation is it will proceed.

Blake's Corner was mentioned. As the Deputy said, it depends on a Bord Pleanála decision, so TII is the relevant party in terms of progressing it. The N19 to Shannon was reclassified as a national road only a few years ago. The last bit was designated as such. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, is considering that to see what type of works are required to upgrade it. It is not as advanced as other projects mentioned.

The N85 was the last one mentioned. I am not familiar with that project. It does not feature in terms of the NDP project. It may not be of the same scale as the ones mentioned in the NDP but we will have to check the status of that one.