Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach may have seen Ardfinnan bridge when he was canvassing in the last election. Ardfinnan is a beautiful village in the south east of County Tipperary, located on the R665. The bridge has been closed for nearly six years. We often hear the old adage about a bridge over troubled waters but this is a bockety bridge over the tranquil waters of the River Suir. The Department is refusing to give funding for a cantilever pedestrian bridge, despite the Minister visiting it on two or three occasions. A number of years ago, the council wanted to make it a one-way system. The people on the community council, whom I salute, stood up and objected to An Bord Pleanála. Now the people are being punished by this bridge being single way and having temporary traffic lights on it for nearly six years. Will the Taoiseach ensure the Minister for Transport provides funding for this cantilever bridge? The bridge has been repaired to its full strength. It was widened 200 years ago. Why would we allow it to be narrowed now? We need funding in the region of €1 million for this stand-alone, ornate steel bridge, designed by a local company, Loughryan Engineering, to allow pedestrians to pass safely and have traffic that serves the communities in this huge area?

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