Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

On my behalf, and on behalf of the people of Bantry, I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing this matter to be discussed and I thank the Minister of State for attending to respond. I want to know the status of the plans to build the Bantry bypass and the intended timetable for the project. Bantry overlooks Bantry Bay in the heart of west Cork and is a large market town, acting as a hub in the south west, providing commercial, retail and tourism and leisure facilities for locals and visitors. As one of the larger towns in west Cork, it has a population of 4,000 people and serves a catchment area of 12,000 people. It is a busy community with plenty activity all year round. Bantry is in the heart of the area and serves an area that is as large as some counties. It serves the local community very well and provides the lifeblood for the local population and business. Like any heart, with years of abuse with traffic congestion, it badly needs a bypass. The heart can then rebuild and regenerate.

Tourism is an important part of the Department's brief and Bantry is a key hub for tourists visiting the region. Unfortunately, the commercial, tourism, agriculture and commuting traffic is pitched into a single town where the topography is difficult. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, is aware that Bantry will host the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, the Masters of Tradition Irish Music Festival, the West Cork Literary Festival, the Bay Run half marathon with 1,000 participants, the Irish National Windsurfing Championships, the Fastnet Rally and the Bantry show. These are annual events and it lends to difficulties for Bantry in terms of traffic congestion.

The Bantry regional general hospital is on or near the proposed route and I do not have to spell out the difficulties that may occur with emergencies. I referred to the N71 and the nature of the traffic on this single carriageway route from Cork, through the southern part of the constituency to Bantry and on to Kerry. It must deal with agricultural, tourism and commuting traffic, which leads to congestion throughout the route. There are also significant fisheries loads at peak times of the weekend, which adds to congestion. It is the fourth largest harbour in terms of tonnage and the case always has been made and agreed that there is a requirement for a bypass in Bantry.

To this end, Cork County Council has played a significant role in acquiring land. The process is practically complete and the remainder of the lands needed have been agreed already with the council. The project is shovel ready. The proposal is even more critical because a new secondary school was constructed in Bantry. It is due to open later this year and is an amalgamation of three schools in the region. One can imagine the congestion when the pupils of three schools from separate areas are now focused in one area. This lead to congestion and danger for pedestrians and young teenagers attending school. Unlike the constituency of the Minister of State, Cork South-West does not have a single inch of dual carriageway or motorway. There is a single carriageway throughout the constituency, which leads to a lot of difficulties especially around Bantry.

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