David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. There is a lot of good news there, which is very welcome. The big issue here is Castlemartyr, which lies between Midleton and Youghal. The Minister of State might be aware of this very picturesque village and of Castlemartyr Resort, which is very popular. Castlemartyr is a major pinch point. During morning and evening rush hour, there are kilometres of traffic jams on both sides. The same thing happens in the summer when people go to the beaches in the area. It is extraordinarily frustrating. People use the byroads as rat runs to try to avoid Castlemartyr. It is polluting because traffic can be stuck there for an hour or more trying to get through. That is the real elephant in the room.

I know there are plans to build a new road between Midleton and Youghal. As I said earlier, it might take years or decades before we see it because it is a major project - a motorway, if you will. I will explain the proposal for rapid bus transit on the greenway. There is space alongside the greenway. It would not interfere with the greenway at all. I would see a fence between them both. The bus would only travel periodically, as required, maybe more frequently in the morning and evening at rush hour and not as often in the middle of the day. It is a relatively cheap option, as opposed to putting a rail track down, with signalling and all the rest of it. It should be explored because the area is being choked due to the issues in Castlemartyr. When I proposed a relief road around Castlemartyr a little while ago, I was told that was not possible because of the karst limestone landscape in the area, with caves and underground lakes, etc. The people I spoke to were afraid to go near it.

This proposal is something that needs attention. I know that on a high-level look they are saying it is not possible, but I would like more of a deep dive into this. I think there is something in it. I have spoken to Iarnród Éireann and it agrees with me that it can be done. I ask the Minister of State to use his good offices to ask TII to carry out a feasibility study and to do a costing of it. I do not want a dual carriageway there. I do not even want a double-laned highway. A single lane is enough. It is wide enough for that. I have seen the drone footage. It is feasibly possible. It should be examined. It could be done in a relatively short period of time compared to the motorway. Otherwise we will be stuck with these massive traffic jams in Castlemartyr for another decade or more.

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