CORK East Labour TD Seán Sherlock is calling on the National Roads Authority to carry out improvements on the N72 Mallow/Fermoy and N73 Mallow/Mitchelstown routes.

His call follows a serious accident earlier this week involving an articulated truck near dancing star Michael Flatley's mansion on the N73

"Both the N72/73 cater to thousands of trucks and cars every day yet neither road is getting the attention it needs. The NRA are to be seriously found wanting when it comes to the maintenance of these two major National Secondary Roads," said Deputy Sherlock.

In 2007 the N72 road between Fermoy and Castletownroche was highlighted as a major safety danger in a survey on Irish carriageways compiled by a safety body established to judge the safety performance of Ireland's roads

The report by European Road Assessment Programme (EURORAP) highlighted the route, which takes in Ballyhooly, as one of the top ten most high risk roads in the Republic of Ireland.

The statistics in the reported showed that in the 4 years up to 2006 there were 19 fatal, serious and minor injury collisions on the 15.1km stretch of road from Fermoy to Castletownroche. The report also found that 95% of Irish road fatalities take place on single carriageway routes such as the N72.

Deputy Sherlock sought funding at the time for improvements to this stretch of road and also called on the NRA to visit and inspect both the N72/73

"As far as I am aware no such inspection has taken place. These roads will cause a fatality - a warning that is falling on deaf ears. The NRA has a responsibility, which is not being met, in terms of carrying out works that will improve safety for all road users. It's a ridiculous situation in this day and age and I am seeking a meeting with the NRA to discuss the matter," he added.