THE Cork-Limerick motorway will be a key priority infrastructure investment for Fianna Fáil if elected to form the next government.
That is the declaration of Fianna Fáil leader and Cork South Central TD, Micheál Martin, regarding the M20 motorway which did not form part of the Government’s capital investment programme for 2016 to 2021.
Fianna Fail Leader Micheal Martin TD says his party will make the Cork-Limerick motorway a priority if elected to government.
Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins
The decision has been slammed by motorway campaigners as it emerged in recent weeks that it is now likely to be 2030 before its constructionunless planning for it is reactivated.
Deputy Martin said: “The M20 is a long overdue piece of national road infrastructure that will connect cities and towns stretching from Galway to Cork. The current N20 was never built to deal with current traffic volumes and the level of congestion and accidents is testament to thisThis is why the M20 will be a key priority infrastructure investment for Fianna Fáil in the next government.”
However, Cork’s Coalition ministers Simon Coveney (Finae Gael) and Sean Sherlock (Labour) insist the project has not been abandoned. See Pages 10&11.
Minister Coveney said: “We said honestly that we could not afford Cork-Limerick in the next five years. It will certainly be in the next phase of priority spending.” Minister Sherlock said: “We could not commit the €1 billion package for the motorway at this moment but we are not kicking it to touch. We are committed to keeping it on the agenda. If we are going to further open up the potential for further trade and foreign direct investment on the western and southern area of the country, the M20 is a key part of that.”