Beverley Flynn TD met with An Taoiseach Brian Cowen recently to press the case for urgent improvements to the N5 between Mayo and Longford.
With a deputation from the Mayo Industries Group, Deputy Flynn and Junior Minister Dara Calleary impressed on Mr Cowen the need to upgrade the substandard section of the N5 in order to help Mayo's manufacturers reduce their transport costs.
The deputation consisted of Pat Gallagher (Baxter ), Pat O'Donnell (Allergan ), and Bernard McGuinness (Coca Cola ).
The Mayo Industries Group has been campaigning strongly for urgent improvements to the road which, they claim, because of its poor condition, is adding excessively to their transport costs and is putting them at a serious competitive disadvantage.
The Taoiseach, who was accompanied by officials of the Department of Transport, told the deputation that both the Longford bypass and the Ballaghaderreen bypass would go to construction in 2011.
In relation to the 35km stretch between Scramogue and Frenchpark — another key concern of the Mayo Industries Group — he said that an environmental impact study would be a priority.
Deputy Flynn said that the meeting had been a positive one, and she was very hopeful that by 2011 a start will have been made on addressing the problems raised by the Mayo group.
“The four major companies in the Mayo Industries Group employ 3,000 people directly and 6,000 indirectly,” said Deputy Flynn. “It is vital that these jobs be protected and their future made as secure as possible.”
