Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. As he has said, there is a long history to this. Having been down there last week - the Deputy was there as well - I understand it is important from a road safety perspective that we see progress on the preliminary design work and hopefully a planning application after it. It is in the interests of providing safe active travel for the community in Ardfinnan that there is an independent bridge, as the Deputy has said. I understand the history and the concerns within the local community and how this been going on for a significant period. Through strong advocacy at the community council, and through Councillor Anglim, Deputy Cahill and Deputy McGrath, we are now at a point from which to make progress on this. We need to see the NTA, with the council, progress the preliminary design and move ahead with the proposal as set out in the recent feasibility study.

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