Capital Investment Plan allocates €7.5m for IT Tralee and funding for N22 Cork/Kerry Rd – Deenihan

Minister of State with special responsibility for the Diaspora and TD for Kerry, Jimmy Deenihan, has welcomed the Capital Investment Plan announced today which will see €7.5 million invested in the Institute of Technology Tralee and funding for the N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom Scheme.

“I very much welcome the news that the Capital Investment Plan will see €7.5 million invested in IT Tralee. This is an investment I have been calling for and which I have raised with the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny.

“IT Tralee, which has 3,000 full-time students and employs 350 staff, is a key driver of economic and social development for Kerry. I am confident that this funding will go a long way in assisting with the work of the IT Tralee Foundation who have been working to raise money to fund the Kerry Sports Academy.

“The Kerry Sports Academy will allow sports people, including those with disabilities to enjoy sport and to compete at the highest standards.

“In addition, the Capital Investment Plan has allocated funding to the much needed upgrade of the N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom Scheme. This road is a strategic access point between Cork and Kerry with tourists accessing South Kerry very dependent on it. The road is in very poor condition and this scheme also includes the Macroom bypass which will alleviate a lot of traffic congestion.

“The investment in Kerry is part of an overall €27billion Capital Investment Plan which includes investment in roads, rail, health facilities, schools and broadband.

“The Plan announced by Government is affordable, sensible and it is consistent with our plan to eliminate borrowing by 2018. It will promote regional economic growth, supporting 45,000 construction jobs over the lifetime of the plan.

“The projects committed to are very much dependent on the choices that this Government and the next make to continue the recovery. We could not afford everything we wanted, but this plan represents the best of what can be delivered with the available resources. We must continue to make the right choices and invest wisely to ensure we never go back to the bad old days of boom and bust.”