Moynihan: M20must gothrough northCork

TRANSPORT Minister Shane Ross has been urged yet again to find the money for the M20 Cork – Limerick road and to give a commitment that, if built, it will not be rerouted through Tipperary.

Cork North West TD Michael Moynihan, addressed the controversial issue during a Dáil Éireann debate this week.

He said there had been “much noise” over possible re-routing of the motorway via Tipperary as a spur of the M8 to reduce costs.

Deputy Moynihan said he was troubled by the Minister’s comments that the size of the project was “pretty forbidding in the current circumstances” and that he would “not rule our creative or imaginative suggestions in this regard.”

“To me the use of the term ‘creative and imaginative’ would suggest the government is still considering the alternative route through Tipperary. That will be a source of concern to communities in north Cork who will be left without motorway access to the State’s second and third cities,” he said.

The Fianna Fail TD challenged government Ministers and TDs in Cork to impress upon Minister Ross the importance of allocating funding for the M20.

“If they don’t they will be letting down their communities. The delivery of this motorway via north Cork can transform the region,” said Deputy Moynihan.

“If the Government is committed to reinvigorating rural Ireland, they will not be side-tracked by short term thinking and will build the motorway direct to Limerick via north Cork,,” he said.