Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a statutory function of each road authority, in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants.

The Limerick northern distributor road involves two phases. The first is the Coonagh-Knockalisheen road. This phase is part of the Limerick regeneration plan and has progressed to the stage whereby An Bord Pleanála has approved the project. Limerick City Council has been allocated €2 million this year to advance the project.

The second phase would involve an extension of the road to tie in with the R445. This element of the scheme was proposed by the local authority concerned, Clare County Council, and is supported by Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council. This second phase is currently at route selection stage and I understand the preferred route corridor has been out for public consultation. This public consultation period has been extended until 12 March during which members of the public will be able to make submissions to Clare County Council. I encourage members of the public to make their views known through this process.

This project is part of a long-term plan for economic development for Limerick city and its environs within County Clare. It is important to complete the route selection stage of the project in order to preserve a route corridor in the relevant local authority plans. This will enable the council to progress this project in the future. However, I should state it is unlikely the scheme will progress any further than route selection for some time.

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