Cork-Limerick motorway benefits ‘outweigh costs’

Government research shows the benefits of the proposed Cork to Limerick motorway would outweigh the costs by two to one, despite Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe’s claims that the project is “too expensive”.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland senior engineer Richard Bowen said the overwhelmingly positive findings in the 2010 research remain relevant today.

“If, or when, a detailed cost-benefit analysis is rerun, the scheme should still provide a strong economic case for investment,” said Mr Bowen. Despite the research being available to Mr Donohoe and his predecessor, Leo Varadkar, the project has been repeatedly shelved.