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

I thank the Minister for his reply. It is fitting that the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, is also present. I thank both Ministers for devoting time and attention to this project in recent years. As the Minister, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, knows, it is crucially important for the reasons I have outlined. It needs to be seen as a priority on the national list. The economic benefits during the construction phase would be enormous. Like so many other parts of the country, counties Kerry and Cork have been hit by the recession, by the effects of the construction crash in particular. If the project were to progress, the construction jobs would be invaluable in the area and provide a massive stimulus in the Cork-Kerry region. If the opportunity arises, I ask the Minister to do everything he can to ensure the project will be considered for funding. The new N22 Cork-Kerry road should be prioritised. It would create and help to sustain jobs. In addition, it would be an economic game-changer in the Kerry south and Cork north-west region. It would benefit this and future generations and I am sure also lead to lives being saved also.

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