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

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply and trek around Ringaskiddy and Carrigaline in his own constituency, where all of the projects he has spoken about are happening. Nothing much has happened in west Cork during the Taoiseach's run. I asked him about the AIRO report and why he did not meet with the council. He refused to answer and continues to refuse to meet the council. His inability to address the independent report that shows quite clearly that Cork county is an astonishing 52 years behind at all State funding levels has left Cork County Council with no choice but to raise rates for hard-pressed businesses by 3.5% yesterday.

The Taoiseach had almost two years to deal with the report but chose, for whatever reason, to turn a blind eye to it; the same blind eye he turned towards roads in west Cork. As a leader from Cork, I had some hope that the Taoiseach would have seen the desperate need for a bypass in Innishannon and the finishing of the southern bypass in Bandon, as well as progressing plans for the northern relief road in Bandon, coupled with the Bantry relief road, but nothing has happened other than pothole repair on these vital roads. On the N71 from Bandon to Clonakilty and Clonakilty to Skibbereen, people can spend 20 to 30 minutes behind a lorry or a tractor, as the plea for funding for simple passing bays fell on deaf ears. After two and a half years as leader of our country, what will the Taoiseach's legacy be for the people of west Cork? I can see little or none.

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