Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to get the opportunity to talk about important matters relating to Kerry. The Killarney bypass is otherwise known as the Cork-Kerry economic corridor. Gladly part of that was opened between Baile Bhuirne and Macroom, but our side of it from Farranfore to Lissivigeen and from Lissivigeen to Castlelough on the Muckross Road is a vital project to help alleviate the traffic jams on the Killarney bypass we have now. There are 23,000 vehicle movements each day on that at the height of the season, and it may be more at times. It is choking our town of Killarney.

Imagine all the traffic that comes down from Moll's Gap, from the Cork side and the Bantry side as far back as Castlecove on the Ring of Kerry and back then from Berehaven and Castletownbere. All that traffic is brought in from the Muckross Road. It goes around Kenmare Place choking the whole area. There is traffic there that has no business going to Killarney, because they have business further up the county, such as in Tralee and elsewhere. They have no business whatsoever coming in there.

There is the fact that six dangerous junctions are being impacted by the loss of this bypass. There is the like of Ballykissane, where we have been calling for a roundabout. There are so many things involved here. There is Madam's Hill, the Kilcummin junction and the junction at Farranfore. There is mayhem there where people are trying to access the N22 coming from Firies and as far west as Dingle. All that traffic is trying to get onto that road. Currow and Scartaglen are on the other side. People have been killed at this junction.

We have been trying to get this bypass advanced for at least 24 years. There was a big hullabaloo back in 2003 or 2004 in the Great Southern Killarney. The plans were shown. They were wonderful plans. Now, that is all at a standstill. It is in abeyance. Even TII does not have the funding to show us the preferred route. Four routes have been discussed in the past number of years. Much planning and development are being held up because of this hold-up and because of the fact that TII cannot come up with the route that was going to be sanctioned because they do not have the funding. The Minister for Transport stopped that this year. It was supposed to proceed but it was cancelled. We are waiting. There is a great TII team working out of Castleisland. They are doing their very best. I refer to people like Paul Neary and several genuine men who have been there for years. This project has been held up. We deserve fair play like everyone else.

Likewise, there are the treatment plants. There are no treatment plants in so many of our towns and villages that have been left behind. Our communities cannot progress until they get the basic rights that are needed to help them get planning in order that they can build homes and put a roof over their heads. These things are hurting the people of Kerry. I am asking the Minister of State to address them as soon as possible.

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