‘N22 funding ignored again in Budget 2017’

FIANNA Fáil TD for Cork North West, Aindrias Moynihan has said that once again the much-needed N22 upgrade, and the bypass of Macroom, has been ignored by the Fine Gael Government.

“Yet again, the people of North West Cork have been ignored by the Government,” said Deputy Moynihan.

“While other projects such as the New Ross Bypass, or the Gort to Tuam upgrade, have been signalled to progress, there was nothing in yesterday’s Budget statement, or indeed in last week’s speech by Minister Paschal O’Donoghue to the Construction Industry Federation about the N22 as a future infrastructure project.”

“This is a vitally important project that is required to increase connectivity in the wider Cork and Kerry region, and communities have been waiting for years for the current Government to allocate funding, and identify timelines.”

“When Fianna Fáil was last in office, we initiated the process for route selection and began the planning application to An Bord Planala for the 21km western section of the route from Coolcour to Ballyvourney, which includes the Macroom Bypass.”

“Last year, we once again heard from the Government that the N22 project was one of several to be earmarked for funding.

“Two budgets later, and we are still waiting,” added Moynihan.

“I’m incredibly disappointed that the Government have not seen fit to prioritise the N22 project, including the Macroom Bypass.”

“Myself, and my Fianna Fáil colleagues will continue to fight for this project. It’s too important to be left on the long finger any longer,” concluded Moynihan.