Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The M20 is a very important route that we need to see prioritised by the Government. When we discuss regions, it is really about access to Cork, Galway and Limerick as a counterfoil to Dublin. The people of Cork, Limerick, Galway and Clare deserve to have that motorway. It will allow us to promote jobs and industry in those areas.

I am aware that the Minister has been lobbied extensively on the events centre in Cork. It is a flagship project that we must see come to fruition. There has been a lot of to-ing and fro-ing on this project. The Minister's Cabinet colleague, Deputy Coveney ,has been working very hard on the issue. It is an extremely important project for the city of Cork. There will be a request to Government, if one has not already been made, regarding future funding. I would hope that in analysing this, the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, will recognise that the project is central to the promotion of Cork as a location for business, industry, the hospitality sector and the whole concert and conference business. We have seen the growth of Cork Airport and the emergence of transatlantic routes out of it. The Minister has always been supportive of Cork Airport. To his credit, he came to Cork and engaged with the airport and stuck with the project at a time when it was not popular. I will always remember that.

The N28 project is slightly out of the remit of the Minister but is linked to him in terms of capital funding. That is the project of most concern and contention in our area. I ask the Leas-Chathaoirleach to bear with me for one minute. There has been a commitment to develop the project. However, it needs to be revisited by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, which has not engaged meaningfully with residents in Rochestown, Carr's Hill or Douglas. It has vexed the minds of people. We are investing State money in a very important road. We all understand that the Port of Cork is moving to Ringaskiddy, which most of us welcome, although some may not. If we do not see change in the emerging route as proposed by TII, it will create absolute mayhem for the local communities. This is not nimbyism. It is about local communities being totally discommoded and adversely affected by a project that can be advanced better by working in partnership.

I thank the Minister for coming to the House tonight. I wish him, his Department and all involved in the public sector pay talks well. Those talks are very important. In respect of the mid-term review of the capital plan, I believe the Minister will hear from all of us in this House about the need to see investment in capital infrastructure.