It seems from the programme for Government that the most the proponents of the M20 route from Cork to Limerick can hope for is a case study. I understand that the route being considered by Transport Infrastructure Ireland involves the use of the M7 route between Cork and Cahir and the Waterford to Limerick route thereafter. That would increase by 40 km the number of kilometres travelled by road users who want to go from Cork to Limerick. I ask the Government to use its political clout to tell Transport Infrastructure Ireland to focus on constructing a route from Cork to Limerick via Mallow and Charleville. We know all about the importance of the rest of the route for the economic development of western Ireland and southern Ireland and for connectivity from Cork to Galway, etc. I know there is a cost factor.

However, if one goes back to increasing the mileage, one is going against the grain of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by getting people to drive more miles to get to a certain route. Will the Government tell Transport Infrastructure Ireland to focus on the Cork-Limerick route going via Mallow and Charleville?

I concur with Deputy O’Keeffe's comments on this rumour circulating from Transport Infrastructure Ireland on changing the route in question. Much work has been done on this route from Cork to Mallow to Charleville and on. For connectivity in the south-west region, it would be a nonsense to build a corridor between Cork and Limerick, then changing its direction and adding 40 km to it.