Probably the biggest and longest awaited project in north Cork is the Mallow relief road. The then Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Donohoe, gave the go-ahead eight years ago. A total of €1.2 million has been expended and a huge amount of work has been carried out. The next step was to go to An Bord Pleanála, which required €1.4 million this year and that was expected. At the last minute, that funding was pulled. There is consternation, upset, anger and puzzlement in Mallow. Will the Taoiseach find the €1.4 million to allow this to go to An Bord Pleanála, where it will probably languish for another year but at least it will be moving?

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I understand he raised it in the House yesterday evening as well. I appreciate the frustration of people in Mallow and the business community there. The Government is prioritising bypasses as part of the national roads programme and this is a bypass. We have about €500 million a year for the national roads programme, comprising about €250 million to improve and maintain the roads and about €250 million for new projects. It is never the case that every project can be funded every year, but we have agreement across government that if savings arise during the course of the year, because some projects do not proceed for some reason or another, they can be reallocated. Certainly, this road is on the agenda, and so is the N4 to Longford. If we are able to find savings during the course of the year, they can be reallocated. I cannot promise that now but I will work on it.