Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

From a road safety perspective, the situation is stark. The 65 km stretch, which is through Tipperary, is 1% of the county's road network yet accounts for 25% of road fatalities, which the Minister of State will agree is an alarming and unacceptable statistic.

The proposed route bypasses Mooncoin and Carrick-on-Suir and provides a flyover for Kilsheelan, yet it inexplicably continues through the existing congested Clonmel bypass, the only urban area with daily traffic bottlenecks. We have to re-examine this and go back to the drawing board.

Along with thousands of landowners and people who live in the area, I am eagerly awaiting the publication of the route option selection documents. Seven homes have to be taken out. We have to twig and rejig this. It is not fair that we would take homes. I am glad the Minister of State is in his position and the Government has now gone back to roads rather than silly projects, many of which were active travel while you could not get funding for roads. I thank the Minister of State for his interest in Tipperary, his assistance with projects he has visited, his intention to visit again and continuing to support us with many projects in south Tipperary.

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