Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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84. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action his Department is taking to progress the Mallow relief road project; the current status of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63270/25]

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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What action is the Department taking to progress the Mallow relief road project? What is the current status of the project, and will the Minister of State make a statement on the matter?

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Burke for his question and his ongoing advocacy on behalf of the people of Mallow. He has been very proactive on the matter.

As the Deputy will know, approximately €502 million of Exchequer capital funds has been provided for national roads through TII to local authorities this year. Included in this is an allocation of €700,000 for the Mallow relief road, which is progressing towards the completion of a preliminary business case and planning application. This scheme consists of a northern bypass of Mallow, with the objective of removing traffic travelling between Killarney and Mitchelstown or Fermoy from the town centre.

This scheme is a priority for me and for the Minister, Deputy O'Brien and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, because as the Deputy knows, through his ongoing engagement and that of Councillor Liam Madden working with him, there is a real need for this road to be prioritised and developed. This will provide increased scope for development and public realm improvements in Mallow town centre, greatly improving the benefits for residents. The people of Mallow will also benefit from reduced congestion and improved air quality. Reduced congestion in the town centre will encourage walking and cycling and improve safety. The project will also act as an enabler for compact growth in the centre of Mallow, which is a national strategic outcome.

The project is currently in the design and environmental evaluation phase, which follows the conclusion of the route selection process. As part of this phase, there was a minor change of route at the western end of the scheme due to an interface with a Gas Networks Ireland transmission main and to reduce the level of impact caused by the earthworks. Cork County Council aims to complete a preliminary business case for the project by the end of this year. Subject to a satisfactory review by TII of the preliminary business case, it is expected that an application for planning permission for this project will be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála in the second quarter of 2026. I look forward to working with Deputy Burke to ensure the project progresses and reaches a satisfactory conclusion.

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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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.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I share Deputy Burke's view that we expedite this as fast as we can. He is right; it is an important infrastructure piece. I have not got the answer regarding the Gas Networks Ireland interface. I will certainly ask the NTA to communicate with the Deputy because he is right. The relief road project will provide an enormous benefit to the town of Mallow. The Deputy has, with Councillor Liam Madden, been very strong in his advocacy. Businesses in the area have been equally as vociferous in pressing for the bypass to be built as quickly as possible. I am, with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and the Department, committed to ensuring for the people of Mallow that the Mallow relief road is built as quickly possible. The Deputy rightly highlighted the gridlock in the area. I was there recently. I had to drive from Fermoy to Knocknagree. I went through Mallow and it is a bottleneck. This road will bring huge economic improvement, not just to Mallow and its people but to the wider region. I look forward to working to ensure we expedite the project.

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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It also ties in with the Cork-Limerick road and the importance of that development. We are 20 years on and we need to make sure that project moves on in the same way as this bypass road for Mallow. With regard to the volume of traffic travelling on that road, some mornings at 5.30, as I am driving to the station to take the train from Mallow to Dublin, there is a volume of traffic coming against me, even at 5.30 in the morning. It is extremely important that two major centres of population, Limerick and Cork, do not have serious road infrastructure in place. We need to make sure that grows, that this plan is also put in place and that a planning application goes in for that as well as the relief road in 2026.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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The Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, like Deputy Burke and I, will be familiar with and recognise the importance of the N20 project. It is critical and it is lacking. It is the deficit in the infrastructure connecting the western corridor. People rightly complain from many perspectives but, from an economic perspective, it is absolutely imperative that we advance the motorway and that Cork-Limerick road.

Equally, I concur with the Deputy in the context of the importance of infrastructure being improved in the Mallow area. I suppose it is the gateway to many areas in the Munster region. Given its location, as the Deputy rightly said, Mallow has substantial volumes of north, south, east and west traffic. It is important that we alleviate the traffic congestion and allow for that flow and enhanced connectivity between Cork, Limerick and Galway. We have seen the benefit of it in terms of Galway to Limerick and I will certainly be pushing the officials in the NTA and the Department with regard to the issues we have raised here tonight. I thank Deputy Burke for his work and his advocacy in working with Councillor Liam Madden on this particular project. This is a critical piece, dovetailing with the Cork-Limerick motorway.