Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is talking about eight to 13 years. That is a hell of a long time. This has been going on much longer than that for the people of Bandon who require the southern bypass to be completed and the northern bypass to be started. It the same with the Innishannon bypass, as I said. This is appalling. I hear nothing I can go back to the people of west Cork with and say that these projects are going to progress, other than reports upon reports that have been going on for decade after decade. The lack of moneys spent on west Cork roads in the past 20 years has left them in appalling condition throughout. The Skibbereen bypass was opened in 2003 and since then no proper funding has been spent on the N71 from Innishannon to Bandon, Clonakilty and Skibbereen. In some parts the road is a danger to people who travel on it. I have told the Minister we cannot wait for another eight years. We cannot wait any longer. I would like the Minister to give me a start date for at least one of those bypasses. We cannot wait for another four, five, six, seven or eight years. The people of Bandon and of west Cork must be respected the same as those of every other constituency in the country, and they need delivery. The Minister is failing in his duty to the people of wes Cork to deliver a proper bypass and open up our roads so we in west Cork can compete.

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