Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State, and I welcome the commitment by the Government in the House today to funding the next phase, which is the design and environmental evaluation phase. It will be good news for the residents in the area.

One specific question that I ask the Minister to take up with his colleagues in Government and the Department of Transport is responsibility for the speed limit. There was quite a lot of discussion at the public meeting on the speed limit, whether it is to be set as a national road by TII or if it is the responsibility of Kilkenny County Council. Is there an opportunity to reduce that speed limit as it exists in those three high-collision areas from 100 km/h to 80 km/h? Perhaps the Department and the officials might come back to me on that.