Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)

I thank Deputies McGrath and Murphy for raising this very important issue. Deputy McGrath is correct, in that I travelled the road recently. I know Deputy Murphy has important issues for me to see. I will be going to meet him in the near future because of issues he is raising on behalf of his constituents. I confirm that I will be doing what he wishes.

The Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with TII under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015, and in line with the national development plan, NDP, the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local roads authorities concerned. This will ultimately deliver the national roads programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and the NDP.

Funding allocated for new national roads projects under the NDP is intended to enable improved regional accessibility across the country as well as compact growth, which are key national strategic outcomes. The funding will provide for the development of numerous national road projects, including the completion of projects that are already at construction stage and those close to it, as well as the development of a number of others.

With regard to the N24 Cahir to Waterford project, this project aims to enhance regional accessibility and improve connectivity between Limerick and Waterford. The project would bypass towns such as Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir, as well as deliver significant road safety improvements. In addition, the project would provide improved access to international markets, as the N24 connects to the N29, which links directly to the port of Waterford. The N24 also connects to Rosslare Europort via the N25. The project would improve the quality of life of commuters and local residents through improved journey times and the provision of new cycling and walking facilities. It is envisaged that the N24 will enable connection to the Waterford Greenway, which will in turn connect to the South East Greenway which will run from Waterford city to New Ross.

The project is currently nearing the end of the route options selection phase. Kilkenny County Council, as the lead authority for the project, is making final preparations for the publication of the route selection report. The report will be available from the project website once published.

While it was not possible to allocate funding to progress the project to the design and environmental evaluation phase in 2025, it is important to point out that the project remains part of the NDP. As with all national roads projects in the NDP, the delivery programme for the N24 Waterford to Cahir project will be kept under review for 2025 and in future years and will be considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available to TII. It is expected that allocations for 2026 will be announced very shortly in the coming weeks.

In the programme for Government, we have committed to investing in all road projects in the current national development plan and to increasing funding for the new roads as part of the NDP review. With the NDP review having been completed, the Department of Transport’s sectoral plan, which is based upon this review, will guide transport investment decisions in the coming years.

At its outset, this Government gave a commitment to the people of Ireland that it wants tar and that is what it will deliver, namely, tar for projects such as what the two Deputies outlined and others that are going to be announced very soon. This Government is committed to providing tar to the people in the interests of road connectivity, road safety and ensuring people will have proper, safe sources and route selections to go from A to B.

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