Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response to this very important issue for the people of west Cork. I am aware that the feasibility study by Cork County Council, about which the Minister of State spoke, is still under review by TII. That is a very important part of the jigsaw. We need the design of the route to be brought forward as best we can because the need for that route is great. We need to know where it will go through a school site, where it will come out and whether it is going to be longer than 2.5 km. There are so many variables pertaining to that site and where the route will be is very important.

I am concerned about the timelines the Minister of State mentioned. Eight to ten years would be very severe for this project. This project has been on the books for the last 25 years and it would be very disheartening for the people of west Cork to wait another ten years or more for a project of this nature. We need to get the design and the route sorted and then we need to put the budget in place in order that we can deliver this project.