KILLARNEY is the tourism capital of the world but the town is coming under real threat from daily traffic gridlock, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been told in the Dáil.
Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae has called for funding to be provided for a long-promised by-pass of the town, diverting traffic travelling from the Tralee road to the main Cork and Kenmare roads without having to pass through the town centre.
He said in 2003 the then government said plans were ready, the route had been determined and the project was scheduled to be completed by 2009 but it was shelved during the recession.
The proposed by-pass would involve a new road running from the Farranfore approach to Killarney to cut cross-country and join up with the main Cork and Mallow roads at Lissivigeen with another link road continuing from Lissivigeen to the main Kenmare road at Muckross.
“It is of critical importance to Killarney. From early May until late September every year traffic jams are a regular occurrence every day. People are left sitting in cars,” Deputy Healy-Rae said.
“If this by-pass was in place it would eliminate most of the accidents and slaughter that occur at dangerous junctions around Killarney,” he added.
Speaking during Leader’s Questions, Deputy Healy-Rae said the junctions at the top of Lewis Road, Madam’s Hill, Woodlawn-Ballycasheen and Coolcaslagh were particular blackspots.
Killarney is the tourist capital of the world, built up by generations of magnificent local families and business people, but traffic is a major problem and plans to bypass the town need to be reactivated, he insisted.
In response, the Taoiseach said he was very familiar with the road in Killarney from his time as Minister for Transport from 2011-2014 but, as he elaborated on the issue, it because clear that Mr Varadkar was mixing it up with the proposed bypass of Macroom and Ballyvourney.
“We know you’re not long in the job – we’ll excuse you for that,” Deputy Healy-Rae replied.
The Kerry TD pleaded with the Taoiseach to reactivate the new Killarney bypass plan as a matter of priority.
“Give fair play to the people of Killarney. Give them a chance to breath because at the present time the town is choking,” he stated.
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