The long wait for a Mallow bypass could finally be coming to an end, after Minister Paschal Donohoe this week included the town in the government’s Capital Investment Programme. The timeframe for the work to begin can’t be given at this stage, because the planning process has to be gone through first, but Minister of State Seán Sherlock said it was fantastic news that the government recognised the need to bypass Mallow, and work on getting the planning permission for the road would start immediately. “This is a big day for Mallow, and signals a recognition by the government that towns like Mallow need to grow again,” he said. “I want to thank everybody who has helped us along the way. The business case made by Jim Woulfe of Dairygold and John McDonnell of Mallow Development Partnership made my interaction with my ministerial colleagues, Paschal Donohoe and Brendan Howlin, far easier.
“I would like to thank my government colleagues, Deputy Tom Barry and Deputy David Stanton, for putting their shoulders to the wheel on this issue.”
Mallow Representative Group, a collaboration of members of Mallow Chamber, Mallow Development Partnership, local industry and businesses, also welcomed the news, saying: “It represents a significant milestone for our town, given the level of congestion currently experienced in Mallow. It also represents genuine progress for the campaign which the Mallow Representative Group (MRG) have co-ordinated for some time now. Our report estimated that €90million in economic benefits could be realised in the shape of a bypass for Mallow. It’s imperative that no momentum is lost and that this project is delivered as a matter of urgency.”
John McDonnell of Mallow Development Partnership said his group was very pleased at the announcement, saying that the Partnership had campaigned vigorously for the bypass.
Deputy Tom Barry said he was “absolutely delighted” that the minister had seen fit to fund this hugely valuable project, not only for Mallow but for Munster. “It is the result of many months and in fact years of effort and intense lobbying, not only on my behalf, but also I would like to thank all of the county councillors and the council executive staff who very professionally made a compelling argument with us in Dublin on a number of occasions. Particular thanks to the bus-iness community in Mallow who commissioned an economic evaluation at the request of the Taoiseach following the opening of the Dairygold facilities in Mallow and Mitchelstown. On that day, the Taoiseach indicated, both to myself and publicly, his support for this project, and I am extremely happy that the funding is now in place, pending planning approval.”
Dairygold CEO Jim Woulfe said: “Through the Mallow Representative Group, Dairygold has been proactively making a case for the development of this road for quite some time. The economic report produced earlier this year spells out the huge dividends which the Mallow area will derive from the delivery of the project. As a society which has been doing business in the area for many years, we are acutely aware of the need for this significant investment and the catalyst for economic recovery which it can provide.”