Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A proper study needs to be undertaken of routes and constraints for a road upgrade. Limerick County Council has gone out to tender for reports on upgrades to the N69 and Adare bypass. These will help us make a decision in this regard. Connecting the port to the national network is not just a political priority but also a European regulatory priority because of the TEN-T CEF project.

I am enthusiastic about the reopening of the rail connection at the port and am open to considering any potential investors. The key point, however, that creates market concern is that it is not yet clear what cargo would run on the railway if it were reopened. No one wants to spend €10 million reopening a railway for it not to be used. There would need to be more certainty about what bulk would be going into and out of the port on the railway.

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