Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The current connection between Limerick and Cork is an appalling stretch of road. It stretches for 80 km and the proposed motorway would significantly cut the travelling time between the two locations.

It would also reduce congestion in towns and the number of deaths and injuries that take place on that stretch of road which is a connection between the second and third largest cities in the State. As the Minister is well aware, 25% of Ireland's economic activity is generated in the mid-west and south-west regions. Limerick and Cork alone account for about one third of the population outside Dublin. Limerick and the mid-west region generally are recognised as attractive locations in which to invest and do business. Unfortunately, without the appropriate infrastructure between the two cities, it becomes unattractive to do so from an investment point of view, on top of protecting what is in place and reducing the numbers of deaths and injuries on the roads. If the Government is to do anything more than pay lip-service to the notion of having balanced regional development, it is appropriate that this funding be set aside to invest in the regions. That would allow people to live, work and remain in them, rather than crowding everybody into the Dublin region. Infrastructure needs to be provided. Why not try to be a little more balanced in how the funding is spent?

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