Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to raise this issue which is important in my locality. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, recognises it is not only a constituency issue but a regional one. I refer to the N20 Limerick to Kerry road.

The road into Adare has been named by AA Roadwatch as one of the worst in the country in terms of traffic tailbacks. It also appears on the AA's list of the country's seven slowest roads. The list was based on the findings of the AA and information from An Garda Síochána and the bus companies. None of this comes as a surprise to the people of Adare or those who use the road to commute because tailbacks have delayed traffic entering and leaving the town for a number of years. Traffic increased over the summer for several reasons, including the upturn in economic activity and the general attractiveness of the Kerry region, particularly when the weather is fine.

I wish to raise a number of issues related to this matter. Commuters travelling west experience great frustration. Many commuters live in the west of the county but work in Limerick city and county roads can become problematic rat runs. Some 133 people signed a petition on the speed limit on such roads, but the council will not consider the matter as the difficulty only arises at certain times of the day. There are serious concerns about the safety of children and at certain times people cannot walk on these roads owing to vehicles taking short cuts. Many of the byroads in question are very narrow and one is especially dangerous.

This has been a problem for almost 30 years and several bypass routes have been proposed during that period. We were extremely disappointed when An Bord Pleanála rejected the last route proposed by the council as the National Roads Authority, NRA, and the previous Minister agreed with it. The rejection was based on the excuse that the delay in the construction of the motorway from Limerick to Cork was partly due to this project. The NRA has stated it is extremely concerned about the condition of the road from Patrickswell towards Cork because of its dangerous narrowness. Trucks create difficulties on this road and there have been many fatalities. The road from Patrickswell to Charleville should be developed as it is an extremely dangerous stretch of road and this development should include the Adare bypass, which was destined to be the case.

I am making a case for Adare to be bypassed, which has happened in the case of many other towns, including Castleisland. Like any other bypass, the project to bypass Adare must stand on its own. It has cost over €5 million to date all relating to plans - not one sod of earth has been turned. There is much tourist activity in Adare which could be enhanced by removing traffic from the village and facilitating local and tourist traffic. I put the case for a bypass to the Minister of State as there are strong feelings on the issue in Adare. The demand for a bypass has been supported by Limerick County Council, the National Roads Authority and the previous Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar. When I raised the issue recently, the current Minister stated it was not just a local issue but one of regional importance. I have raised the matter on several occasions and do not wish to do so indefinitely. The current approach could see the project stall for decades. Traffic chaos is not enhancing one of the prettiest villages in the country - in fact, the opposite applies.

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