Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I concur with what Deputy Creed said. The vision must be there. I am always reluctant to raise road projects, particularly new ones, with the Minister in the Chamber because it has been a recipe for abject disappointment over the past number of years. I know that we are quite different ideologically with regard to our views on these issues but the reality is that as Deputy Creed pointed out, this project will be needed for future generations. This is something that is critical to the regional economy. Public transport services will use this road. It is not all for individual cars. It will incentivise people to take buses between Tralee and Cork and between Killarney and Cork.

At the moment, this section of road is highly dangerous. We cannot continue to see the levels of fatalities that are happening on that road. The Minister got the figures from TII. Could he give the House those figures? How many people are projected to die on that section of road if it is not upgraded? What does the Minister think is an acceptable number of deaths before intervention and before putting this on the national development plan?

See this speech in context