Macroom bypass opening
Deputy Creed welcomed the forthcoming opening of the Macroom bypass but raised the extra cost of a temporary roundabout to facilitate it. The Taoiseach said he would have the matter examined, welcomed the opening, and would engage with the council and TII.
I understand that the Taoiseach will visit Macroom on the Friday after next to mark the opening of the Macroom town bypass element of the €285 million contract to build a new motorway from the county bounds to east of Macroom at Coolcower. This project is a game changer for the region and one for which I was delighted to get Government approval in 2019, when I had the honour to serve in Cabinet. As the Taoiseach will no doubt be aware, in order to facilitate the early opening by him, a temporary roundabout at Carrigaphooca has been installed at an additional cost of €1.2 million. The plan is to remove that temporary roundabout in a few months when further progress is made on the remainder of the road. Instead of the roundabout being dismantled, will the Taoiseach take the necessary steps with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, to ensure that a permanent on-off junction is provided at this location, thereby facilitating the local communities at Mons, Carrigaphooca, Lissacresig, Kilnamartyra, Reananerree, Ballingarry and beyond to Bantry and the Beara Peninsula in order to facilitate their easy access to the new road?
Comment on this
I will have that examined, but I am not familiar with the details of what the Deputy has just said. The opening is very good news. It is a very good development. The bypass has been long awaited and will be of significance to Kerry as well as to Cork and to all who travel on that route. We will engage with the county council and TII in respect of the Deputy's suggestion.