N28 Cork to Ringaskiddy road must be given priority status

Speaking from Passage West today Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada gave her backing to calls for the N28 Cork to Ringaskiddy road to be given priority status in the upcoming capital programme. The Sinn Féin MEP was in Passage West and Carrigaline for a number of engagements alongside the party’s Cork South Central general election candidate Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire.

“An upgraded N28 Cork to Ringaskiddy would bring with it huge economic advantages for Cork and surround area.Ringaskiddy and Carrigaline host an important employment cluster and improved road access will add to the capacity to serve this cluster.

“The potential for jobs is huge. I know that Cork Chamber commissioned a report that showed that up to 2,228 jobs could be directly created by an upgrade, with a huge multiplier effect on employment right across Cork.

“I have been working closely with the Port of Cork in terms of accessing EU funding for developing their facility in Ringaskiddy, and one important caveat for me is that increased capacity at the port is matched by increased road capacity. This is a vital condition for residents and one which I support.

“I have been working on proposals in the European Parliament on blue growth and harnessing the potential of our marine and maritime sector. Upgraded road connectivity will facilitate the ongoing development of the IMERC maritime and energy research cluster, including the Beaufort Research Centre.

“I have previously spoken of the huge knock on effect that development at Ringaskiddy will have for Cork in terms of freeing up prime publicly owned land in the city centre for the development of civic amenities for the people of Cork and for the development of tourism in the city.

“Sinn Féin believes that a fair recovery is possible, but it must be balanced to ensure that the regions benefit. I am calling on the Government to ensure that the N28 Cork to Ringaskiddy gets the priority status that it needs.

Cllr Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire reiterated that the delivery of the n28 was now urgent.

He said;

“As we debated at Cork County Council, and agreed unanimously, the Government needs to now prioritise and expedite the delivery of the n28, Cork to Ringaskiddy upgrade; it is now urgent. The Port of Cork redevelopment has created some concern whether the current transport infrastructure is adequate.”

“Phase 3 of the Port Redevelopment, we have been told, will not proceed without the n28, therefore hampering any value of the redevelopment of the Port. In addition, the people of Shanbally and Ringaskiddy deserve delivery, who have already suffered the impact of heavy freight travelling through the middle of the villages for far too long.”

“I am calling on the Government Parties to make an explicit commitment to ensuring this road gets the go ahead as soon as possible.”