Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of the abysmal allocation made by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, in respect of progressing the Mallow northern relief road scheme when the allocations for 2024 were announced recently. The allocation made for the Mallow relief road, as we call it, was €300,000. This is a paltry figure given that the project is progressing rapidly. A preferred route has been selected and I contend that the project is further along than most others elsewhere in the country. I want to see an additional allocation made so that we can progress this project to planning stage.

If the Minister of State tells us the €300,000 allocation has been made to progress the project to design and environmental evaluation stage, we will accept that €300,000. We are looking for what I will describe as the equivalent of two RTÉ exit packages. If we had two times €450,000, the impact would be such that the project would be able to go to planning. The impact of that in ameliorating traffic flows and improving people's quality of life would be absolutely immense.

I anticipate the Minister of State will tell us there were constraints this year. As I understand it, more than €400 million in Exchequer funding has been allocated for projects of this nature. All we are asking for is an in-year additional allocation of approximately €900,000, on the basis that the preferred route has already been selected. We are not at stage zero but beyond it. The preferred route has been chosen and the €300,000 allocation will get us to design and environmental evaluation stage. However, the equivalent of two RTÉ exit packages would get us to planning stage. If we can get to planning stage on this project, the benefits, given where Mallow is located between Cork and Limerick, would be immense and would provide great relief in fulfilling Government policy. Stated Government policy is about reinvesting in towns and town centres, freeing up traffic, having people move back to and living in town centres again, and providing the relief to congestion that is vital to towns like Mallow.

I appreciate that the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, is not here and I appreciate that this matter is being taken on his behalf. I do not fully expect the Minister of State to be across the details because this does not fall under his line Department and the response has been provided to him by the Minister for Transport. I fully accept that. There is a roster for Ministers of State taking what we call Topical Issues. However, I make the case that of the more than €400 million that has been allocated, all we want – I will repeat it for the third time – is the equivalent of two RTÉ exit packages. If we take Breda O’Keeffe’s exit package of €450,000 and double it, that would get us to planning. In relative terms, the impact of such an allocation would bring untold benefits.

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