Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

People believe the N22 Macroom bypass project could proceed much quicker than is currently the case. The key issue is the tendering for construction, which, for a project of this scale, would take the best part of a year to complete. The tendering process could run in parallel with the land purchase and could have started at any time from 2013 onwards. It did not commence in 2014, 2015 or 2016. Will the Minister release the Macroom bypass project to tender for construction this year?

The other key point relates to the archaeological and sensing works proposed for later this year, which are being packaged as an advance project. These works formed part of the construction contract which was parked. They were plucked from that contract and repackaged as advance works. The substantive contract must be released to tender for construction. We do not need to wait for land purchase. The tender could have proceeded at any time since 2013 when the compulsory purchase order was confirmed. Will the Minister release the project for tender this year?

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