I thank the Deputy for the question and his ongoing advocacy on the need for the N20-M20 Cork-Limerick motorway. He and I share an urgent need to have this road completed. I wish he and I were not in the House again discussing this. It is a project of gargantuan importance. As Members will know, it involves 80 km of refurbishment and, at its core, the project will address many of the road safety concerns on the existing N20. I also commend Councillor Liam Madden on his work on this project. In addition, the project is aimed at improving connectivity between Cork and Limerick, increasing journey time reliability for passenger and freight traffic and improving the economic heartbeat of the region. As Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, I know it is also about relieving congestion in towns such as Mallow, Buttevant and Charleville and improving the quality of life for residents in those towns. The project team issued updates in June 2024 and June 2025 to inform all stakeholders of progress to date and proposed next steps. Earlier this year the update provided further detail on the refinement of the route corridor and the impact on landowners. It also detailed junction designs, plans for transport hubs and the active travel infrastructure that is part of the project. A preferred route has been selected and the project team is currently engaging in the design and evaluation phase. At this juncture I understand that Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, expects to submit a preliminary business case to the Department of Transport in the second half of next year. Given the scale of expenditure required, the project will require the approval of the Government at that stage before submission of statutory documents to An Coimisiún Pleanála, which will follow thereafter.
Sentiment score: 0.39
I agree with Deputy Burke that, despite the challenges outlined, the growth necessitates that this road be expedited. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I in the Department of Transport, working with An Taoiseach and other members of Government, will do our damnedest to expedite the project delivery for this road. I fully concur with Deputy Burke. I travel that road regularly. The road was fine 50 years ago, but it is not any more for a variety of reasons, such as safety, connectivity and the congestion in the towns, as I mentioned earlier. I will certainly work with everyone to decrease the project's time. Equally, Deputy Burke raised another point we need to address, the land that is locked up. That is about the economic prosperity and further growth of the region from an economic point of view. I will try to get further information for Deputy Burke from TII about the question he raised on the timelines for the project.
Sentiment score: 0.20
On the Ryder Cup, I congratulate the European team, including Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry. Deputy Burke is right. We are committed to the Adare piece, but the Cork to Limerick part is equally important. I am confident that-----
Sentiment score: 0.35
I am not sure we will get there for the Ryder Cup, but it needs to be-----
Sentiment score: -0.12
Gabh mo leithscéal.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I thank Deputy Lawless for raising the importance of rail and bus connectivity in County Mayo. As Minister of State at the Department with responsibility for rural transport, I am delighted to say we have seen considerable investment in services throughout the country under the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan. In County Mayo especially, funding has gone up by 56% over the past two years. We saw a boost in passenger numbers by 72% between 2023 to 2024. As Deputy Lawless knows quite well, a great example of this continued investment can be seen in the launch of routes 460a and 460b, as recently as Monday of this week. These new routes will offer connectivity to regional bus services, Castlebar Station, Mayo hospital and the villages and areas between Castlebar and Achill Island. I am also pleased to share that in July of this year, Ireland's first-ever smart demand-responsive transport service was launched in Achill in Deputy Lawless's county. I commend the Minister, Deputy Calleary, for his role in this, along with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. This pilot marks a major milestone in rural mobility innovation. It is a flagship initiative designed to revolutionise how rural communities access public transport. As Deputy Lawless knows, the service introduces a flexible, door-to-door, app-based transport model tailored to local needs, offering greater convenience, accessibility and frequency. I and my colleagues in the Department look forward to seeing reports on its implementation over the coming months. As Deputy Lawless knows, Connecting Ireland has been a major success, with over 175 new or improved services since 2022, linking 240-plus towns and villages to public transport. It has delivered 61 healthcare connections, including connections in the Deputy's county of Mayo, 41 connections to higher education and 71 linking to rail. In 2024 alone, nearly 8 million passenger journeys were made. Our Department supports the continued expansion of rural transport in line with our commitments in the programme for Government.
Sentiment score: 0.35
Can the Deputy tell us which tractors?
Sentiment score: 0.00
I want to get the details of the tractor the Deputy is referring to because that would be a fair old tractor no matter where you are coming from. Without being flippant, the Deputy is right. The Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan is important. As he knows, the Government is very much committed to rural Ireland. This year's all-island strategic rail review made 33 strategic recommendations, which include a proposal to reinstate the western rail corridor with a connection between Athenry and Claremorris. In addition, the review also noted other potential developments, including improved rail service frequency between Mayo and Athlone through the building of more passing loops. The Deputy makes a good point regarding frequency, connectivity and speed. It is all about ensuring the west of Ireland benefits equally, as the Minister, Deputy O'Brien has referenced, for example, through the upgrades at Ceannt Station and Oranmore Station. It is also about the expansion of rural transport in County Mayo under Connecting Ireland. I do not have time to go through them but the Deputy will know the routes in County Mayo that have been significantly improved and which are seeing increasing passenger numbers.
Sentiment score: 0.28
I thank Deputy Lawless and remind him that the Government has invested €84 million in the rural transport programme. Some €116 million has been allocated to regular rural services. In addition, €40 million has been allocated to new services including new town services under Connecting Ireland and BusConnects. There has been success in rural transport. Some 70% of those living outside our cities will have access to public transport services providing at least three return trips to a nearby town each weekday. I take the Deputy's point about people moving back home. There is the housing challenge, which Government is committed to, but more than 100 new county town connections from settlements around county towns and 60 new regional intercity connections of all types have been put in place. Government is committed to rural Ireland. We are committed to investing in public transport. The proof is the envelope, that is, the funding I have outlined to the Deputy. We are investing. Contrast that with ten years ago and look at where we are today. There is a much better service and much better connectivity with an increased population.
Sentiment score: 0.19