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

The following information is the most up-to-date information available to me on TII's delivery of projects on the N71: regarding the Innishannon bypass, the route feasibility study was previously commenced but was suspended. As this scheme is not included in the current NDP, I have been advised by TII that the project remains suspended at this point in time.

On the Bantry bypass, a feasibility study on possible options was completed previously by Cork County Council. This scheme is being progressed in two phases by the council. Phase 1 design is currently being progressed under European Investment Bank, EIB, funding. TII has been in discussions with council officials concerning phase 2.

On the Bandon bypass extension, a feasibility study was completed by Cork County Council and TII is currently reviewing this. The project appraisal plan was approved by my Department in 2020. This work on early planning and design will continue in 2021, with a preferred route for the bypass extension to be identified. TII allocated €100,000 to Cork County Council to progress this pre-appraisal work during 2021. The current N71 relief road around Bandon ties back into the existing road network via a steep downhill gradient and drivers must also negotiate a number of roundabouts and priority junctions within the built-up area of Bandon. The N71 in this area experiences heavy traffic, with annual average daily traffic of between 9,000 and 14,000 vehicles. The proposed relief road extension would involve bridging over the R603 to remove the existing steep gradient and the construction of approximately 2.5 km of new single carriageway tying back into the existing N71 just west of the town.

The timeframe for the delivery of any major or minor works projects that require statutory approval, whether for an environmental impact assessment report, EIAR, or CPO, or both, is between eight and 13 years.

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