Danny Healy-Rae demands review of 'active travel' roadworks
Danny Healy-Rae raised concerns about recent roadworks on the Ring of Kerry near Killarney, saying 'active travel' changes have reduced the carriageway to 20 feet and caused buses to pull in their mirrors to pass. He called for no further similar work until a formal review or assessment confirms value for money.
The deputy described works between the Nugget and the Gap Cross on the way around the Ring of Kerry, where tourists and buses use the road day and night. He said the carriageway has been reduced to 20 feet, with footpaths and grass margins now wider than the road, and cited videos showing buses having to pull in their mirrors to pass.
Danny Healy-Rae asked that no more of this type of work be carried out until a review, investigation or assessment is completed to establish value for money. He warned similar changes are proposed on the N22 from the Cox side into Killarney, including narrowing the carriageway and removing Daily's roundabout.
The Taoiseach said he did not have the same detailed grasp of the specific roads and suggested the works may be an NTA project - the National Transport Authority. He agreed there should be a thorough evaluation of value for money and clarity about project objectives, noting sometimes the aim is to provide for cyclists but that narrow historic roads can make outcomes difficult for all users.
The deputy emphasised public upset and concern about traffic flow and safety where roads have been narrowed, stressing the need for assessment before further schemes proceed. The exchange highlighted tensions between active travel objectives and practical carriageway use on busy tourist routes.
Location and immediate problem
The deputy described works between the Nugget and the Gap Cross on the way around the Ring of Kerry, where tourists and buses use the road day and night. He said the carriageway has been reduced to 20 feet, with footpaths and grass margins now wider than the road, and cited videos showing buses having to pull in their mirrors to pass.
Request for a review and halt to further works
Danny Healy-Rae asked that no more of this type of work be carried out until a review, investigation or assessment is completed to establish value for money. He warned similar changes are proposed on the N22 from the Cox side into Killarney, including narrowing the carriageway and removing Daily's roundabout.
Government response and responsible authority
The Taoiseach said he did not have the same detailed grasp of the specific roads and suggested the works may be an NTA project - the National Transport Authority. He agreed there should be a thorough evaluation of value for money and clarity about project objectives, noting sometimes the aim is to provide for cyclists but that narrow historic roads can make outcomes difficult for all users.
Concerns about safety, access and public reaction
The deputy emphasised public upset and concern about traffic flow and safety where roads have been narrowed, stressing the need for assessment before further schemes proceed. The exchange highlighted tensions between active travel objectives and practical carriageway use on busy tourist routes.
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Transcript
Taoiseach, I'm glad to get opportunity. Whenever we get funding in Kerry for roads, we're very grateful and appreciated and get great value for money. We've gotten great value for money back over the years. But as what's going on between the Nugget and the Gap Cross going out of Killarney on the way around the Ring of Kerry, where many tourists and buses go daily and at night time as well, in fact there's fierce traffic on this road. However, the worst that's going on there now, they're being called active travel, which means now that the carriageway has been reduced to 20 feet. And that in either side of this carriageway, the footpaths and the sideways and the grass margin are wider than the actual carriageway. And people are very upset and very concerned. There's videos of buses trying to pass each other. They have to pull in their mirrors to get by. And people are concerned about the value for money. And I'm asking that until some kind of a review is done or some investigation or assessment, that no more of this kind of work be carried out until people are sure of what's happening. It is proposed to do the same work on N22 from the Cox side into Killarney. And to eliminate and take away daily's roundabout and narrow the carriageway as well. I'm asking before that happens that a proper assessment is carried out in a review in relation to the value for money. Well, Deputy, you know I'm a frequent visitor to Killarney, but I don't have the same detailed grasp of the roads that you've just named. But I think that's an NTA project, I'd imagine. NTA, National Transport Authority project, I'd imagine. And I do understand to some degree what you're saying. And there should be thorough evaluation of the value for money aspects of any of these projects. And that everyone is clear about the objective. Sometimes it is to provide for cyclists, but sometimes the roads are so narrow to begin with, that the outcome of some works makes it difficult for everybody to use such a carriageway. I've seen it myself. And because some roads are historically narrow. I'm trying to be helpful, Deputy. Thanks, Deputy. We will move on to Deputy Willie O'Dea. They shouldn't be passing each other anyway. We have a chat with them afterwards. Deputy O'Dea. I come back to you and I talk to you, and I think it's probably an NTA project. Thanks.