Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for taking it. He has had a busy day and I am grateful that he remained in the Chamber for this discussion. As he will be aware from our previous conversations, the N22 project is vital for the south-west region. Upgrading the N22 would have major a social and economic impact for the region. My colleague, Deputy Michael Creed, who lives in Macroom, also views the project as a high priority.

I ask the Minister to treat the project as a priority for capital investment because it is badly needed in counties Cork and Kerry. The economic benefits of improving the N22 would be far-reaching for both counties. Killarney is only 50 miles from Cork but it feels like 100 miles when one is driving along the current road. It would open up a new jobs market to people living in County Kerry by making it viable to commute to Cork safely and in a timely manner. That would go a long way to solving Kerry's unemployment problem. It would also make County Kerry more easily accessible from Cork for short breaks and more attractive for investment. There would also be social benefits by, for example, making it easier to travel from County Kerry for medical treatment. It is an unfortunate feature of many people's lives that they have to travel to Cork for treatment along a road that is both unsafe and difficult. Furthermore, Macroom is currently choked with traffic and a bypass would benefit the town.

In regard to safety issues, I was shocked to receive figures from the Minister for Justice and Equality which showed that 41 people lost their lives since 1990 on the stretch of road between Ballyvourney and Ovens, with a further 61 people being seriously injured. That equates to four people being killed or seriously injured every year along that section of the route. An upgraded road would be much safer.

I understand the cost of phase one of the project, which involves the section from Ballyvourney to the Cork side of Macroom, is approximately €160 million, but it has a cost-benefit rating of three plus. I commend the Minister and his predecessor, Deputy Leo Varadkar, for progressing the project in recent years in order that it is shovel ready. When we are in a position to allocate funds, I urge the Minister to do all he can to bring this project to fruition.

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