Apple windfall and road projects
Deputy Sherlock asked whether the proposed Apple fund framework could support the Mallow relief road and Cork to Limerick motorway. The Minister said the Government was considering a range of infrastructure projects and agreed both schemes were important and would be part of the assessment.
In his speech to the Dáil on budget day the Minister, Deputy Chambers, made a commitment to develop a framework to invest the Apple windfall receipts. Coupled with the budget commitment to "protect, renew, develop and maintain national and regional local roads", can the Minister inform the House whether projects such as the Mallow relief road and the M20 Cork to Limerick motorway can be considered as vital infrastructure projects that marry with the Minister's stated aims of enhancing our country's "economic, enterprise and industrial model" under this proposed Apple framework?
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Government is looking at that. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, spoke about this but of course we are investing these funds for the future and there are a number of different important infrastructure projects that deserve support. I have no doubt the Mallow relief road will be included in all those considerations. I will raise that with the relevant Minister.
Comment on this
I am sure that is needed as well. The motorway is also an important piece of critical infrastructure.