Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The report assessed four separate solutions, as well as a "do nothing" scenario, and the bypass of Julianstown emerged as the preferred option not only in the multi-criteria analysis but also in the preliminary cost-benefit analysis. The cost was expected to be in the region of €20 million but the estimated benefit over the lifetime was to come to €80 million.

I do not know if the Minister personally had the chance to read the preliminary appraisal sent to his Department but this is a small, picturesque village with approximately 600 people living there. There are 20,000 cars and heavy goods vehicles travelling through that village every day. When the motorway was planned, the idea was that it would take all that traffic away from Julianstown but it has not done that. There are still 20,000 vehicles per day going through the village so not only would the bypass reduce travel time, it would also reduce the carbon footprint. We are in the midst of a climate emergency and the objective is to reduce our carbon footprint. Will the Minister and his Department, therefore, reconsider the project in order to give it priority?

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