Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. I am glad he stated that in the future he will make a strong case for the improvement of the Cobh Road.

The State has a clear role to play in job creation, investment and enterprise. Part of that role is to identify where there are weaknesses and strengths, and it is up to the Minister to strengthen any weakness and to assist in the flow of investment and jobs in to a suitable area that requires it. That area, I argue, is Cobh.

The Minister himself was there and he spoke highly of it.

I believe the Minister when he says he will make a strong case for it.

Cobh is a beautiful town which relies heavily on tourism. It is ideally situated in Cork Harbour - the second largest natural harbour in the world - and attracts large cruise ships. Cobh is at the doorstep of Cork, the second largest city on the island. It is also close to markets and is a gateway to the nation.

I know that €60 million may sound like a lot in the overall scheme of things, but this issue has been continuing for decades. We need to get that one missing link which is the upgrade of the Cobh road. I hope the Minister will see it as an investment rather than as expenditure. I also hope that in future he will make any case he can to prioritise the upgrading of the road.

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