Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is a man with deep Tipperary roots and I know he is looking favourably at trying to get Tipperary town bypassed. I compliment Patrick O'Callaghan, a home-grown Tipperary man, on the 75 jobs announced this week, half of them in Tipperary. I ask the Minister to look at the bypass plan prior to the review of the national development plan. Spending €2 billion to €3 billion on the M20 from Cork to Limerick is a waste of money and damages the environment. We should carry on and bypass Charleville and Buttevant, have an alignment with that road and upgrade the N24 from Limerick to Waterford to motorway status. At less than €800 million, that would cost a fraction of the price, provide connectivity with the ports of Foynes and Waterford and bypass Tipperary town. Will the Minister please ensure this project happens? I am sure he does not want the big projects that are doing damage to the environment and ecology. A simple bypass would relieve congestion and allow Tipperary town to flourish and its people to have the stamina, energy and enthusiasm to live, like Patrick O'Callaghan has shown this week.

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