I thank the Tánaiste. We move on to the Rural Independent Group. Its leader today is Deputy Danny Healy-Rae.

I am glad to have the opportunity to raise again the matter of the proposed Killarney bypass. There were two parts to the project when it was first put before the members of Kerry County Council. The first part runs from Lissivigeen to beyond Farranfore on the N22. It is to run from Lissivigeen to Castlelough on the Muckross road on the N70. It is a vital project which will reduce pressure and the number of accidents from Lissivigeen to beyond Farranfore. There have been many fatalities at Coolcaslagh, Ballycasheen, the top of Lewis road, Madam's Hill and the Four Roads junction in Farranfore village. At the last count, on the current bypass which is not sufficient, an estimated 18,600 vehicles passed by daily. It is probably higher now. The road links the Ring of Kerry, the Killorglin road and the Cork to Tralee road.

The other leg will run from Lissivigeen to Castlelough to avoid the need for traffic from Kenmare and the Ring of Kerry to pass through the heart of Killarney town. All of the traffic heading to other parts of the country would not have to use the Muckross road. It would also mean that all of the traffic, the thousands of cars heading to Muckross House and Gardens and the national park would not have to pass through Killarney town and clog it up. The Muckross road, the town, Mission road and Dr. Hans Liebherr Road become parking lots at certain times of the day because traffic cannot move. On the one hand, it is good that we have this traffic into Killarney town which is the tourist capital of Ireland and where the tourism operators are second to none. However, they need assistance at this stage to ensure their product will not be diminished by visitors complaining about being held up in traffic.

This project was first put in front of us in 2004. In 2017 I raised it and we got €50,000 just to dust down the files. We got €500,000 this year to carry out further studies and preparatory work. I am asking the Tánaiste to commit to ensuring this project is included in the coming year's capital investment programme.

The Tánaiste understands the question.

We have a Minister of State, Deputy Griffin, in Kerry and I am asking him to put his shoulder to the wheel on this project.

The Deputy should not invite interruptions from Deputy Griffin.

I am very sorry.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am not sure that in reality raising it in Leaders' Questions is the best way to move this project forward, but I will certainly give an update on the situation as I understand it.

It might not be appropriate but Deputies can raise anything in Leader's Questions.

I know they can but it might not be the most effective way to get this project moving forward. The Minister of State, Deputy Griffin, is pushing this project as well. The scheme consists of 27 km of road improvements between Farranfore and Killarney along the N22. I presume that is the scheme about which the Deputy is asking. The scheme provides for a bypass of Farranfore village, a new realigned N22, including a link into Killarney town, and an outer bypass of Killarney town. The current status of the project is that the project appraisal plan was approved by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport late last December. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, approval has now been issued to Kerry County Council to commence the procurement of technical advisers. A defined route corridor already has been selected. The project was suspended in 2010 or 2011 when there was no money. The project appraisal plan was prepared in 2018 and it is now moving forward. I am glad to say that we now have a national development plan with potential funding for the development of projects like this. I suggest that the Deputy pursues it, both with Kerry County Council and directly with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, which will be able to provide him with detailed briefs.

Councillor Maura Healy-Rae has raised it with Kerry County Council. As the Tánaiste said, the scheme was suspended in 2011 and both parts of the scheme were suspended at that time. TII's appraisal, however, has left out the very important stretch from Lissivigeen to Castlelough. It only mentions the part from Lissivigeen to beyond Farranfore, which is not adequate and will not help Killarney town at all. I ask the Tánaiste to ensure the second leg is added to the project, because that is what we were told we would get back in 2004. That was 15 years ago. Killarney and Kerry have waited 15 years and that is long enough. Time is running out for the Tánaiste and the Government of which he is a part. I am asking the Government, of which the Minister of State, Deputy Griffin is part, to ensure that the two parts of the 2004 proposal are included in this year's capital investment programme.

Go raibh maith agat, Deputy

The Tánaiste suggests that other avenues are open to me. I am asking him in the Chamber of Dáil Éireann to progress this very worthwhile project in this year's capital investment plan. I am very sorry, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

It is a bit late now.

The Deputy knows only too well that I will not make a funding decision like that on the hoof during Leaders' Questions. I suggest that he should work with the Minister of State, Deputy Griffin, who well understands the importance of this project.

Where is he?

Anseo.

I am here.

He is in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and believe me, he is delivering for Kerry as well as he is for many other parts of the country in respect of tourism and transport infrastructure. There are processes by which projects are like this are prioritised, funded and delivered which must be gone through and the Deputy understands that.

I would like to allow the Minister of State to comment but Standing Orders do not allow it.

I am probably safer not getting involved.