Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)

The line Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I have €92 million more for roads this year and I hope we will have more next year in the budget. There is a real need for this funding. Deputy Colm Burke has a question on the Cork to Limerick motorway. We need that motorway. All of us who travel that road know that is the case from an economic point of view and from a safety point of view, and we want to see the motorway built. The sum of €700,000 has been allocated to the Mallow relief road. That scheme will provide increased scope for development and enhancement of the public realm.

To be fair, we do need bicycle lanes and to support active travel measures. Mallow is a thriving town. Deputy O'Flynn is absolutely right. We want to see it grow and develop further. I look forward to seeing that happen for the residents and businesses in Mallow, but it is also part of Our Rural Future, and involves the Department of Transport and my other Department - the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. We want to see thriving towns like Mallow acting as a hub and offering a link. Part of that is an enhanced public transport offering.

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