Have infrastructure projects in Adare been prioritized over others?
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The Clare Byrne Show on Newstalk. With Aviva Insurance.
with all of the discussion that has happened around the infrastructure set to be in place for the Ryder Cup in Adair, with the construction of a temporary train station along with the Adair bypass, both to be completed before the event starts in September 2027. And questions have been raised over the speed of these projects, while other infrastructure plans seem to get mired in delays. I'm joined now by Minister of State and Limerick TD Niall Collins. and Sinn Féin Public Expenditure Spokesperson and Chair of the Finance Committee, Maurice Farrell. And you're both welcome to the programme. Minister Collins, I'll start with you. If we use the example of Navan, where people have been waiting 30 years for a rail link to Dublin, and it seems as though once the golfer said they were coming to Limerick, the sods were turned on roads and train stations reopened with the stroke of a pen.
What infrastructure projects are being prioritized in Adare?
How do you explain that?
Well, I explain it by virtue of the fact that the people of Adair and West Limerick and the wider county Limerick area have been waiting for a bypass of Adair for about 40 years. The current bypass, which is under construction, is part of a larger road scheme, which is the Limerick to Fines motorway. It's a new road which has been constructed from Limerick City, which will bypass Adair and link the port of Fines to the motorway network. And that's being financed by money from the European Commission because the Port of Fines is our second largest port and there's a fund of money there to link our major ports to the motorway network.
But my question is, has it all been pushed along because of the Ryder Cup?
Yeah, so just to give you context, that road scheme that I've just described encompasses an Adair bypass. And it's the fourth version of an Adair bypass, which finally got over the line over a 40-year period. So this road is a long time, this bypass is a long time in gestation and finally it's being constructed. So you're right to say that it has been expedited by virtue of the Ryder Cup. That decision was taken to carve out a section of the Limerick to Port of Fines new road where a seven kilometre section of that where a carve out was made to construct that in advance of the Ryder Cup.
So you can see why people would say, look what can happen when there is the political will for the thing to happen.
Well, you could look at it that way, but you could also bear in mind what I've just told you. We're 40 years waiting for this road. And secondly, the project is shovel ready. It had been through planning. It had been through procurement. You know, there have been a number of judicial reviews, which thankfully those hurdles were removed. So it was kind of at the top of the queue, the same as every other large infrastructure project around the country goes through all of these processes. They're all different. They're all of their own challenges. They're unique and they pose their own problems in terms of trying to bring them to fruition. So I suppose the decision was taken. The overall... Estimated cost of the new Limerick Defines motorway is in the order of €455 million.
And the Adair bypass section, which is now under construction, was actually on site last week with the construction company, which is a joint venture between Sarnson and Sisk. And it's well advanced.
I want to bring in Mairead at this point. So Mairead, all you need if you want your Galway bypass, for example, is to have a big golf event or something similar in Galway and it can be done in about a year, year and a half.
Well, yeah, that's exactly what it sounds like. Nobody's saying that the people of Adair shouldn't get this bypass, absolutely. Everybody wants to see basic infrastructure that is needed and communities have been waiting decades for it to be delivered.
Why are the Adare train station and bypass being expedited?
I think the issue here is making sure that they're delivered in all those areas where they are needed, but also then make sure things aren't just on a temporary basis.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–0:54
2
What infrastructure projects are being prioritized in Adare?
0:54–4:09
3
Why are the Adare train station and bypass being expedited?
4:09–6:43
4
What challenges have been faced in completing the Adare bypass?
6:43–11:38
5
How does the Ryder Cup influence infrastructure development?
11:38–18:17
6
What concerns are raised about temporary infrastructure solutions?
18:17–18:19