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

I thank the Minister of State for the reply. If I understood her right, she said funding would be made available to ensure the route selection. I hope this happens. She mentioned all the other projects and I am sure they are all very worthwhile, but this project has been awaited for almost 25 years, which is a quarter of a century. We have waited long enough and people have lost their lives. The Government is talking about road safety and how it is going to do drastic things to try to curb the number of accidents, many of which are not real or which will have no effect. I am appealing to the Minister of State and my colleagues from Kerry who have a say in the Government's ear and on whom the Government is depending. This is their time. The election will be over by this time next year and there will be a lot of changes. This Government will not be the same the next time out. Who knows who will be here? Deputy Griffin has already said he is not standing the next time. I am appealing to him and the Minister, Deputy Foley, to ensure Kerry gets this funding because it is important to all of Kerry. All of Kerry is adversely affected by the lack of this bypass and we need the funding to progress it.

The Minister of State mentioned that it is up to TII. It is up to that body and I am sure it will perform once the Government gives it the funding. No money, no fun. That is where we are now. So many people have done so much work over a long number of years. The local TII office, formerly the NRA, initiated the project back in 2004 and Kerry County Council's senior management have put, and are putting, a lot of resources and effort into ensuring this worthy project goes ahead. I am appealing to the Minister of State to deliver the message to Government. She is not in the Department of Transport, but I ask her to please bring my message to the Minister, Deputy Ryan.

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