Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 1030: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the proposed plans for the M20/ N21 Cork to Limerick road incorporating the Adare bypass; if the projects have been fully withdrawn from planning; if the county councils have been communicated to regarding the release of constrained lands for planning permission applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27400/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads is a statutory matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

The M20 project has been withdrawn from An Bord Pleanála but the project has not been abandoned as it may be re-initiated in the future. Had An Bord Pleanála approved the M20 project, the NRA/local authorities concerned would have been required to exercise the CPO authorisation within 18 months or the approval would have lapsed. Without a facility in place to advance the construction stage of the project it would not be appropriate to incur significant land costs on the project at this time. It should be noted that the N21 Adare bypass remains with An Bord Pleanála for decision.

In cases such as the M20 project, planning authorities have been requested to make all reasonable efforts to protect identified preferred route corridors. Within these parameters, however, there may be scope for planning authorities to accommodate some development within the route corridors.