Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am not questioning his familiarity with this issue. As he has said, the national development plan includes a reference to the Cork north ring road. He has described this as "a one-line reference". According to the national development plan, the scheme will be examined as part of the overall planning and design of the M20 Cork to Limerick scheme in the context of future linkages that might be "complementary". I have mentioned the Cork metropolitan area transport strategy, which will cover the period up to 2040. It is expected to identify the need for schemes such as the Cork north ring road, as well as the possible timelines for such schemes. This project is not off the agenda. As the Deputy can see, it is being considered. There is a reference to it in the national development plan, which says it will be examined. I am not sure that the Deputy can ask for much more than that, especially in light of the phrasing of the Topical Issue matter as submitted to me. It might have been better if he had referred specifically to the Cork north ring road, on which he concentrated throughout his remarks. I understood that we would be debating the need for "a full assessment of transport needs for the greater Cork metropolitan area in consultation with both local authorities and Transport Infrastructure Ireland".

See this speech in context