ARE GOVERNMENT WALKING AWAY FROM M20?
Cork TD Seán Sherlock has expressed serious concern at media reports from government sources that the M20 has been pushed down the list of priorities by the Government in the Mid-Term Review of the Capital Plan.
“The last Government committed funding to conducting a feasibility study for the M20 route and that is underway,” said Deputy Sherlock.
“This commitment was on the understanding that once further monies became available, the M20 would be first on the list as a critical piece of national infrastructure. This comes on the day when the 2017 Action Plan for jobs makes a passing reference to infrastructure investment as a means of attracting FDI.
“However, before the review of the plan even gets underway, there are government sources in the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure saying that such an investment in vital infrastructure would be pushed far down the list.
“It appears to be the new Government policy to say one thing in public, but another in private.
“This goes against the spirit of a review.
“It also goes against the policy of Government to invest outside of Dublin in order to create sustainable employment and it goes against common infrastructure sense.”
“I call on Minister Donohue to clarify such indiscreet government leaks on a review that has yet to even take place, and whether he intends to keep the M20 at the top of the Government agenda.”
“The M20 is a critical piece of infrastructure that would connect two of our largest cities and provide an alternative investment corridor to the greater Dublin area.
“If we want to see balanced regional development, then the M20 must be built, and the Government should clarify what it’s intentions are.”