Deputy Michael Healy Rae TD has renewed his calls for the Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport, Eamon Ryan to commit to a start date for the delivery programme for the N22 Killarney to Farranfore road project.
Despite the former Green Party leader admitting that Kerry County Council has enough money to progress its side of the project, he has continuously failed to commit department money to progress the new infrastructure to a start date.
25 Year Delay
Instead, Mr. Ryan is happy to avoid all communication when it comes to committing to the project. This is something that has angered Deputy Michael Healy Rae TD who outlined the years of frustration for those affected by a delay of over 25 years.
“Known more locally as the Killarney bypass project, it has already been on the table for more than 25 years. As far back as 2004 a route was selected but due to the economic downturn in 2008, the project was taken down.
“The project was progressed once again in 2021 with a number of possible new routes identified of which none was selected.
Great Upset with Landowners
Something that has caused great upset with landowners and residents along the routes who cannot sell property or apply for planning permission as their lands may be subject to a compulsory purchase in the future.
“For a man who is a great believer in communication, Maybe we can see some action. All we hear from the Minister is talk about his Department and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) communicating with each other but never anything committed despite promises that this project will be progress.
Pressure Points on Junctions
“The effect of the delay of the project can be seen each summer in Killarney which sees motorists come to a standstill for hours. Something which has become unbearable for residents with a lot of pressure points on the junctions intersecting the current N22 primary road leading to accidents.
“When it comes to Kerry, it is very evident that the Green agenda is not one this county. Rather than waving a Green agenda, Mr Ryan could do us all a favour and wave a green flag to progress the Killarney bypass route” Deputy Michael Healy Rae TD stated
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