Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

My understanding is that all the options are being looked at, including the building of rail connectivity between Cork and Limerick as a way of improving connectivity to the cities. This is not a formal position but I understand it is now less likely that the option that seemed like the best one, which colleagues of mine were promoting, of using a connection via Tipperary to the Cork-Dublin motorway to provide such connectivity is not being favoured. Whatever option is agreed, it must fit within the new NDP. One of the constraints in that regard is a financial constraint because we will have to invest massively in housing, climate, farming and forestry. We will also have to invest massively in public transport and active travel, as well as in roads. The national development plan review, as I see it, is providing us with an opportunity to consider how that money is best spent. Like the Deputy, I think it is best spent on a large number of small bypasses to see our towns restored. That will deliver the national planning framework requirement for balanced regional development and compact development.

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