Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleague Deputy Ahern for giving me a couple of minutes. I congratulate the two Ministers of State, namely Deputy Canney and my Cork colleague Deputy Buttimer, on their new roles.

I wish to raise the Mallow relief road, which the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer might be aware of. It is very important infrastructure. Since I was a young boy, the Mallow relief road has been talked about. It has been talked about for 20 years more and has been raised in this Chamber on a number of occasions. Transport Infrastructure Ireland will be giving its allocations in the next few weeks, I hope. I have a sincere request for the Minister. A sum of €100,000, a very measly amount, was received in 2023, and €300,000 was received in 2024. This was eventually topped up with moneys left over. Cork County Council has requested €800,000 to keep the momentum behind the project because it is to go to approval stage by March 2025, I hope. However, council officials have told me that unless the council receives the €800,000, the project will be stopped. That is just the way it is.

With regard to road safety, the main street of Mallow is like a car park. People are constantly parked there and it is backed up constantly. The Mallow relief road will be the project to solve the issue. In terms of economic, social and housing development, we need the Mallow relief road built. I ask the Ministers of State sincerely to liaise with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on the Mallow relief road and try to get this project over the line and built as soon as possible. It is for vital infrastructure.

The €6,000 per kilometre that Cork county received is a measly amount. It is one of the lowest in the country, even though the county has the most road infrastructure. I ask the Ministers of State to consider the amount we get per kilometre in the county.

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