Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for taking it. He has had a busy day and I am grateful that he remained in the Chamber for this discussion. As he will be aware from our previous conversations, the N22 project is vital for the south-west region. Upgrading the N22 would have major a social and economic impact for the region. My colleague, Deputy Michael Creed, who lives in Macroom, also views the project as a high priority.

I ask the Minister to treat the project as a priority for capital investment because it is badly needed in counties Cork and Kerry. The economic benefits of improving the N22 would be far-reaching for both counties. Killarney is only 50 miles from Cork but it feels like 100 miles when one is driving along the current road. It would open up a new jobs market to people living in County Kerry by making it viable to commute to Cork safely and in a timely manner. That would go a long way to solving Kerry's unemployment problem. It would also make County Kerry more easily accessible from Cork for short breaks and more attractive for investment. There would also be social benefits by, for example, making it easier to travel from County Kerry for medical treatment. It is an unfortunate feature of many people's lives that they have to travel to Cork for treatment along a road that is both unsafe and difficult. Furthermore, Macroom is currently choked with traffic and a bypass would benefit the town.

In regard to safety issues, I was shocked to receive figures from the Minister for Justice and Equality which showed that 41 people lost their lives since 1990 on the stretch of road between Ballyvourney and Ovens, with a further 61 people being seriously injured. That equates to four people being killed or seriously injured every year along that section of the route. An upgraded road would be much safer.

I understand the cost of phase one of the project, which involves the section from Ballyvourney to the Cork side of Macroom, is approximately €160 million, but it has a cost-benefit rating of three plus. I commend the Minister and his predecessor, Deputy Leo Varadkar, for progressing the project in recent years in order that it is shovel ready. When we are in a position to allocate funds, I urge the Minister to do all he can to bring this project to fruition.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue with me once again. He acknowledged the work that Deputy Michael Creed has done on this project. I am not being flippant when I say every time I see Deputy Brendan Griffin or Deputy Michael Creed I think of the Ballyvourney to Macroom project. Both Deputies are constantly raising the project with me. The fact that the road is not being progressed in the way the Deputies want is in no way due to a lack of advocacy or support on their part. The project is affected by the financial circumstances in which the country finds itself and which are now beginning to change. At some point in the future we will have the capacity to progress projects like this one. I am aware that the project was approved by An Bord Pleanála in 2011 and I acknowledge that it has considerable merit.

In recognition of this, we have tried to find ways to keep the project active. I have allocated €5 million to the National Roads Authority to continue with land acquisition for the project to allow progress to be made if and when we get to a point where the project in its entirely is capable of progression. There is limited funding available to advance such projects, but this is the kind of project I want to see being advanced. I am very much aware of its regional importance, apart from the benefit to the Deputy's county and constituency which I have had an opportunity to visit with both the Deputy and the Minister of State, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan. The Deputy made me aware of how important the project was. I have travelled the route privately and I am aware of the acute need for the project.

The Deputy referred to collision cluster statistics for accident black spots. He has mentioned information that has emerged from the National Roads Authority which has analysed collision data for the past three years. This is called the network safety ranking and covered by the authority in compliance with the EU road infrastructure safety management directive. The national road network is broken up in 1 km stretches. The number of collisions involving injury on each 1 km stretch of road is identified, with traffic volumes on that stretch of road. An average collision rate is then calculated. Any section of road which is twice above the average collision rate and on which there are three or more collisions in a three-year period is identified as a collision cluster site. Using this methodology, the authority has identified between 150 and 200 such sites which meet the criteria on an annual basis. These sites are examined by NRA road safety engineers in consultation with the local authorities. The issues involved are broken up and dealt with under the headings of engineering, enforcement and education. The sites on which there is a potential engineering solution are examined further by the local authorities.

That is the background to the information mentioned by the Deputy. I acknowledge his persistent representations on behalf of the project, as well as those of Deputy Michael Creed. While I am not in a position to advance the project in its entirety, my Department is trying to find ways to keep the project active in order that it can be progressed when national circumstances improve.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. It is fitting that the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, is also present. I thank both Ministers for devoting time and attention to this project in recent years. As the Minister, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, knows, it is crucially important for the reasons I have outlined. It needs to be seen as a priority on the national list. The economic benefits during the construction phase would be enormous. Like so many other parts of the country, counties Kerry and Cork have been hit by the recession, by the effects of the construction crash in particular. If the project were to progress, the construction jobs would be invaluable in the area and provide a massive stimulus in the Cork-Kerry region. If the opportunity arises, I ask the Minister to do everything he can to ensure the project will be considered for funding. The new N22 Cork-Kerry road should be prioritised. It would create and help to sustain jobs. In addition, it would be an economic game-changer in the Kerry south and Cork north-west region. It would benefit this and future generations and I am sure also lead to lives being saved also.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As I said, I absolutely acknowledge the need for the project. I also recognise the work the Deputy has put into progressing it. From the funds available to my Department, we have provided €5 million to try to ensure a way is found to keep the project active. That has led to the acquisition of land this year. I am working hard within the Government to try to secure a commitment to provide capital funding in the future. My overall priority is to maintain the roads we have which are under intense pressure because the maintenance budget has been cut in response to challenges the Government and the country have had to face. I hope as circumstances improve such projects can progress. I will certainly continue to do all I can to push the project.