The long-awaited Killarney bypass project appears to have been overlooked once again in Budget 2025, leaving local residents and businesses disappointed.

While the budget allocated €1.36 billion for national and local road networks and road safety measures, there was no specific mention of the Killarney bypass.

This comes as a blow to the community, who have been advocating for the bypass for many years to alleviate traffic congestion and improve safety.

While other regional and local road projects, such as the Tralee Relief Road, were included in the budget, the Killarney bypass seems to have been left off the list.

“The town of Killarney is choked with traffic and the proposed bypass road to Farranfore is vital to relieve the daily gridlock. It is a no-brainer to take out any surplus vehicles that are only passing through the town, which will allow traffic to flow more freely, people to attend appointments on time, the delivery of goods will speed up and we can all catch that train or bus,” said Cllr Michael Cahill.

This omission has raised concerns among local representatives and residents who believe that the bypass is a vital project for the region's development.

The Killarney bypass is seen as a crucial solution to the traffic congestion that plagues the town, particularly during peak tourist season.