Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This question may have been submitted prior to last week's public meeting at which it was agreed, as we can now confirm, that funding of €280,000 is being provided to Tipperary County Council to allow this project to proceed to the next stage of development, which is known as phase 3 - preliminary design. I know the Deputy will welcome that decision. I thank him and other local public representatives such as Councillor Anglim, Deputy Cahill and others, as well as the local community generally, for their keen interest in this project.

I understand the NTA formally communicated this decision last week. In developing the project further, the council will obviously progress through the process in regard to the overall preliminary design. As we all know, the village of Ardfinnan spans both sides of the River Suir. Ardfinnan Bridge previously consisted of a two-lane vehicular carriageway with no pedestrian facilities connecting either side of the village. In September 2015, it was converted into a one-lane stop-and-go shuttle system for vehicles, operated by a temporary traffic light arrangement, and a 1 m footway delineated by temporary barriers. The Ardfinnan Bridge project was originally set up as a minor footpath scheme in 2021 which would formalise the existing arrangement. However, that scheme was ultimately put on hold and the council asked to undertake an options assessment report to identify and rank options, including a proposal to revert the existing bridge to two-way traffic and construct a new active travel bridge. The council’s report concluded that the preferred option was a proposal to revert to a two-way traffic bridge and construct a new bridge. I am pleased that a solution has been found and the project as developed by the council can proceed to the next stage. We have obviously provided funding to facilitate that. I thank Deputy McGrath and others for their advocacy in getting to this point.

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