Multibillion-euro projects to support rural areas, build new hospitals and to fund start-up businesses will be unveiled today under the long-awaited national development plan.

The long-awaited Macroom to Ballyvourney bypass is “near shovel ready” and yellow jackets will be on the road in January, Fine Gael TD, Brendan Griffin, told councillors at a meeting in Tralee.

A challenge by An Taisce over planning approval for a controversial €65m road widening scheme on the N86 road between Tralee and Dingle has opened before the Commercial Court.

The decision by An Taisce, in November, 2014, to seek a judicial review of the proposed improvement work on the section of the N86 road from Dingle to Camp has saddened, disappointed, and angered the majority of people living on the Dingle Peninsula and those who visit it regularly.