Ireland's second and third biggest cities may finally be linked by motorway at long last, as it's believed that a huge leap has been taken towards the delivery of an M20 motorway connecting the two.

According to JOE, Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe announced a huge increase in capital spending on infrastructure by €500 million annually to 2021. Chambers in both Limerick and Cork believe that this progress must be a sign that the M20 is at the forefront of their plans. 

Minister @Paschald published the Summer Economic Statement today. Read more: https://t.co/B0LoBgUFPd #SES pic.twitter.com/mZZ05YOEwl

— Fine Gael (@FineGael) July 12, 2017

This announcement by Donohue comes the day after the publication of ‘Gearing up for the M20: A Route to Success’, a plan to help create a three-city region (Cork, Limerick and Galway) to facilitate commuters in the South West. 

Amongst the findings contained in the report, the M20 would prevent approximately 118 accidents per year and add up to 5,400 additional direct jobs in the region.

Speaking about today's announcement, CEO of Cork Chamber Conor Healy said: 

“The statement this morning by Minister Donohoe is very much welcome and moves us ever closer to the development of the M20 as the recovery in public finances once again allows us to ramp up investment in key projects with significant economic, competitiveness and social benefits. This is the single most important project yet to be delivered for the nation’s road network so the provision of additional funds, we feel, must move it closer to realisation.''

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