As a regular visitor to Cork South-West, the Taoiseach will be aware of the desperate need for a bypass for Innishannon and for the development of the Bandon relief road. Both communities have been waiting years for these vital projects. Innishannon is basically divided in two because of the amount of traffic and the tailbacks in the morning and evening are only getting worse. In Bandon, heavy goods vehicles and other large vehicles are being forced through the centre of the historic walled town because of the inadequacy of the relief road. The Minister for Transport has basically said that the Innishannon project has been shelved. Will the Taoiseach assure the community that this is not the case? The planned schedule for the Bandon relief road means that the project is still years away. Will the Taoiseach help to accelerate it?

I will pursue the issue of the Bandon bypass with the Minister and come back to the Deputy with the details. Did the Minister give the Deputy any reason as to why the Innishannon project had been shelved?

No.

I am well used to the queues.