Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed that the Limerick/Cork motorway will pass along the route originally envisaged — putting an end to fears the project could be further delayed.

The lack of a motorway between Cork and Limerick is the “single biggest gap in Irish infrastructure” and planning needs to be kick- started urgently, the boss of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has said.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has suggested the Cork-Limerick motorway could be built as long as tolls are included.

Business leaders in Cork and Limerick have united to secure the construction of a motorway between the two cities.

The Government is examining ways of fast-tracking finance for the stalled Cork-Limerick motorway, estimated to cost up to €1bn.