Minister of State at the Department of Transport Jack Chambers met with members of Sligo County Council last Friday regarding the N17 Knock to Collooney Bypass project.

Throughout the meeting, Sligo Councillors stressed to the Minister the importance of this route to the locality and to road safety.

Initial analysis of the route, according to Sligo County Council, suggests the project could reduce collisions by close to 400 over 30 years. This includes close to 40 fatal and 45 serious collisions.

As a result of the meeting, Minister Chambers will meet with Minister Eamon Ryan, Tanaiste Micheal Martin and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to discuss the project further.

Minister Ryan met with members of Sligo County Council last month to discuss the project, whereby he informed that there are other projects higher up on the list of importance – but the funding will come for this route.

Sligo Councillor Marie Casserly attended both meetings, and chaired the meeting with Minister Eamon Ryan.

She has been speaking to Midwest Radio’s Rian Bailey, and first clears up what Minister Ryan said to the Council last month: