Minister for Transport, Shane Ross, has given the go-ahead to Transport Infrastructure Ireland to restart planning for the long-coveted M20 motorway, which would connect the second and third city at a cost of €800m.
![IE LIVE NEWS 7/7/10 ... Part of the large attendance for the An Bord Pleanala oral hearing being held at Charleville Park Hotel into the M20 Cork-Limerick motorway. Picture Denis Minihane.]()
The large attendance for the An Bord Pleanala oral hearing into the M20 Cork to Limerick Motorway held in Charleville in 2010. Picture Denis Minihane.
He confirmed with Limerick senator Kieran O’Donnell, who said: “Michael Nolan, CEO of TII, advises me that he will be re-starting the planning process straight away. This will involve doing traffic and environmental studies, with a view to preparing a brief for the appointment of engineering consultants.”
Experts, including those from TII which was formerly the National Roads Authority, have said in the past year that it will be 2030 before the motorway is built unless the planning process is restarted immediately.
When built, it would shave half an hour off driving times, as well as save lives, according to TII, who have repeatedly begged the Government for funding to be allocated to the project.
Cork Chamber chief executive Conor Healy said that any progress made in getting the M20 moving should be welcomed but cautioned that it was a long way from being given the go-ahead in the latest development.
He said: “It is a key piece of infrastructure for the region and any progress is welcome. However, it is important to see clarification on whether it will be part of the Capital Infrastructure Spending Plan review next year. Over the last number of weeks, Cork Chamber has met with both Department of Transport and Department of Public Expenditure to push the need for the M20. The acid test will be if it is indeed included in the 2017 review, with necessary funding and a timeline.”
The €27bn Capital Plan was announced in September 2015 and includes projects such as a metro link between Dublin Airport and the city centre, and the new National Children’s Hospital. Cork projects include the N8/N25 Dunkettle Interchange, the N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom schemes and the N28 Cork to Ringaskiddy Road.
Despite €20m being spent on the planning process in the past decade, the M20 project was abandoned in 2011 by Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar, who said the €800m funds needed would not be available for the coming years. His successor, Paschal Donohoe, reiterated that position, saying no money was available for it.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny visibly irritated when the Evening Echo put it to him that it was vital for the region shortly before this year’s General Election. Echoing his then Minister for Transport, Mr Donohoe, the Taoiseach said there was no chance of it happening in the near future, saying “Cork had got its motorway to Dublin”, adding it was “amazing how the expectations grow just as the economy starts to improve”.
Despite this, Fianna Fáil has insisted it be put back on the agenda during next year’s Capital Spending Review. Speaking to the Echo this week, leader Micheál Martin stopped short of saying it was a red-line issue for its continued support of the minority Government, but insisted it was necessary for the region to thrive in the coming years.
