Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his positive remarks. I want to reference a project about which I have spoken privately to the Minister many times. It is the Limerick northern distributor road. He referenced it in his contribution. Phase 1 is well under construction and, hopefully, in a matter of months vehicles will be travelling on it alleviating traffic congestion in the north suburbs of Limerick city and making it possible for Clare people to get to and from work. Phase 2 stands somewhat in a state of flux. There is a roundabout at Knockalisheen in Meelick where phase 1 ends. We do not know what will happen with phase 2. It is not referenced in the national development plan but there are a lot of statutory phases ahead of it. We would like to know whether it will progress in some form over the coming years. The key aspects to note are that it will alleviate traffic, provide connectivity across south Clare and provide a knowledge corridor from Limerick Institute of Technology, which is now part of a technological university, and the University of Limerick. There are teething problems along the route line; I will not say there are not. Many of them relate to some of the routing through Parteen and Cloonlara. This needs to progress through consultation with the community. We would really like to know whether this is dead in the water or is something that can still progress over the coming years.

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