Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader use his good offices to write to the Minister for Transport to ask him if he could ensure the long-awaited funding for the N85 realignment project between Ennis and Inagh in County Clare is included in the 2026 funding programme? This stretch of road has been on the agenda for a long time - many years. Clare County Council recently passed a motion calling for this funding to be made available, bearing in mind that thousands of cars use the road every day. It is the main access point to the Cliffs of Moher, which is the second busiest tourist attraction in the country. This stretch of road has needed an upgrade for a long time to deal with the level of traffic using it.

Also, will the Leader establish exactly what the situation is with the long-awaited project at Blake’s Corner in Ennistymon? This is an inner relief road that requires a new bridge and the demolition of some buildings. Again, this is part of the N85 main thoroughfare and the access point for the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, Lahinch, all of north County Clare and the Wild Atlantic Way. This summer, there were again huge traffic delays in the Ennistymon and Lahinch area because of the hundreds of buses every week trying to negotiate a bridge that was built decades ago and that clearly is unable to deal with the volume of traffic. The adjoining properties and the current access point are being regularly damaged and businesses in that immediate area are suffering greatly because of the amount of traffic. While Ennistymon as a town is doing exceptionally well in spite of all of this, were this project to be concluded, Ennistymon as a town and all of north County Clare would benefit enormously.