The urgent need to deliver the Mallow Relief Road and M20 projects, along with the fallout from the ecological disaster on the River Blackwater, were central themes of Minister Jack Chambers’ breakfast briefing with Mallow Chamber of Commerce at Springfort Hall on Monday.
Mr Chambers reaffirmed that major infrastructure schemes such as the Mallow Relief Road and the M20 remain firm Government commitments. However, he acknowledged frustration at the pace of delivery, noting that it can now take up to 15 years for a road project to move from planning to completion, far longer than in the early 2000s. He pledged an “absolute commitment to a change of pace” to ensure more responsive delivery and better value from public funding.
Turning to the River Blackwater, the Minister noted criticism that the State’s response to recent pollution incidents was “not good enough.” He described the event as “a total environmental disaster, which shouldn’t have happened,” and insisted that those responsible must be fully pursued and held accountable under the law.
The Minister’s remarks came during a keynote address to local business leaders, where further issues raised included childcare, finance, property dereliction, and the rising cost of doing business.
Looking ahead, Mr Chambers cautioned that Budget 2026 will be tighter, with a particular emphasis on reform. He stressed that Ireland remains in a position of economic strength and noted that reform “shouldn’t be only utilised in a crisis response.”
