Local Cork TD Deirdre Clune has highlighted that the N28 Cork-Ringskiddy upgrade and the N25 flyovers at the Bandon Road and Sarsfield Road roundabouts could be put at risk if the Government proceed with cutting funding to road and rail projects.

Just last week Cork Chamber launched an economic assessment which concluded the N28 upgrade deserved priority status because of the economic benefits and increased connectivity it would provide for the Cork region. Now the N28 upgrade has appeared in a list of projects that are expected to be suspended by the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey TD.

These cuts could also see the proposed N25 flyovers at the Bandon Road and Sarsfield Road roundabouts also put at risk. The NRA has confirmed to me that the flyover projects are “subject to funding being made available” and any Government decision to cut funding to road projects may have a negative impact on this status.

Recently released figures from the CSO (PDF 95KB) for June reveal that 46,114 people are currently unemployed in Cork. At a time when job creation is the greatest challenge that we face projects such as the N28 upgrade and N25 flyovers which would have positive economic, competitive and employment benefits for the entire Cork region need to be given the priority they deserve.