Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State. As he knows, Mallow is quite close to Cork city. There is a huge volume of traffic now passing through Mallow because it is coming from either the Killarney side, the Fermoy-Mitchelstown side or the Limerick side. It is all coming into Mallow town. We need to prioritise this project because it is really having an adverse effect on the town as regards the volume of traffic.

On the bypass road, I understand there was an issue in relation to the Gas Networks Ireland line, but surely national authorities should know where major strategic lines are? We know where overhead cables are. How did a delay like this occur? I am concerned that we will have further delays unless we make sure we have all the t's crossed and i's dotted when we are submitting for planning. I am anxious that we would submit for planning at the earliest possible time so we can progress this project.

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