Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have previously raised the matter of the M20 motorway from Cork to Limerick. It is an urgent matter and I have tabled a Commencement matter on it for tomorrow. The motorway is supposed to be part of the Atlantic Way access route, along the western seaboard. The Gort to Galway road is currently being built. It is imperative that the road upgrade gets underway. The majority of the planning for the road project was done before November 2011, at which point the project stalled. I ask that the planning process be reactivated. That would require the appointment of consultants, through public procurement. It would take a number of months and would take place prior to the mid-term review of the capital plan, which will happen in mid-2017. No time should be lost.

It is imperative, from a number of points of view, that the M20 gets the go-ahead. I have to question why, in a modern economy, the two largest cities outside of Dublin are not linked by motorway. There have been a large number of fatalities on the N20, including recent fatalities on a section of the road near Limerick. Many people commute between Limerick and Cork on a regular basis, and commuter times are an issue. The route would provide synergies.

I ask that funding be provided by the Government and the Minister, Deputy Ross, to reactivate the planning process. It would not cost an enormous amount of money, so we would lose no time on a vital project for Ireland.