Clarification on M20 now needed from Government parties
Labour TD for Cork East Sean Sherlock has called on Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party to clarify whether the M20 will proceed over the lifetime of the next Government.
Deputy Sherlock was speaking after comments from Green Party TD Ossian Smith at the Green Party convention and Minister for Finance Pascal Donohue this morning that indicated that the M20 may not go ahead as intended over the next five years.
Deputy Sherlock said:
“The N20 is one of the most dangerous roads in the country with a numerous serious accidents every year. The design contract for the M20 was finally awarded earlier this year and we have been assured by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil that the project is going ahead, yet this morning we now hear that it is up for negotiation.
“The M20 is a vital piece of national infrastructure that is important for the economic development of the South West as a strong economic counter balance to Dublin and the East Coast and for balanced regional development.””
Deputy Sherlock continued:
“I am calling on the three parties seeking to form the next Government to clarify whether the M20 will proceed with the current timetable. At present the best case scenario for completion of this critical infrastructure is 2027 and any attempts by the Green Party to delay the project will kick this date into the next decade.
“It is important that no further time is lost in progressing this vital missing piece of infrastructure to link the two major cities outside of Dublin. This cannot be a political football. It is too important to the future growth of this region.”