David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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103. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his position on funding for transport infrastructure upgrades in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8754/25]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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My question relates to the Minister's plans to fund public transport infrastructure upgrades across Waterford city and county.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the question. The Government’s position on this issue is clear – we look forward to delivering improved transport and an improved transport network for the people of Waterford, and to continue that over the coming years.

In the city area, those improvements will be introduced in line with the Waterford metropolitan area transport strategy, which sets out a plan-led, evidence-informed basis to improve active travel, public transport and road networks across the metropolitan area in the years ahead. A key component of the strategy will be rolling out BusConnects Waterford in the coming years, and I look forward to seeing that commence, which will build on the improvements introduced a few years ago.

In the wider county area, the Deputy will no doubt acknowledge the substantial progress already made in improving public transport under the Connecting Ireland programme. Connecting Ireland is introducing public transport to towns and villages in Waterford that have never had services before and enhancing service levels in those towns and villages that have services. I look forward to his continued support in that and seeing that progress over the coming years.

On roads, we are supporting the council in the protection and renewal of the existing network and in delivering a new and improved network for the future. An area I will be looking at in the context of the review of the NDP will be to see how we can increase funding towards protection and renewal works, including climate adaptation. This is an area we can improve upon and I will look to accommodate that in the NDP review.

It would be remiss of me to discuss transport infrastructure in Waterford without discussing the north quays project. I have no doubt the Deputy shares my belief - I know he does from our discussions on this - that this will be a truly transformative project for Waterford. From my perspective, it also highlights the type of projects that can be delivered through joined-up thinking and co-ordination across different Government funding sources.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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I agree with the Minister on the transformative nature of the north quays project, which we all want to see progressed as quickly as possible.

I will raise the issue of upgrading the N24, which is the Waterford to Limerick road. I spoke to the Minister privately on this a number of weeks ago. I know he received a letter from the three CEOs of the local authorities in Carlow-Kilkenny, Waterford and Tipperary. He will know that the project was funded up to phase 1. We now need phases 2, 3 and 4 to be fully funded. My understanding is that there is an ask of approximately €8 million over the next three years and €2.2 million is needed to advance phases 3 and 4 in 2025. The CEOs of the local authorities are looking for that commitment. The Minister will know that the preferred transport route has been agreed and has gone out for public consultation. That will include bypasses for Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir, Kilsheelan and, I think, Mooncoin. Is he committed to providing that €2.2 million in 2025?

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is correct; we have discussed this privately. A number of Deputies are interested in this important project. In 2024, approximately €4.8 million was allocated to Waterford City and County Council, under the national roads network, for national roads in Waterford. Two major road projects of importance in Waterford are in the NDP, namely, the N24 and the N25, which is Waterford to Glenmore. I recently received a submission on national roads and future funding for that. I will assess that in the coming weeks. I see Deputy McGrath is coming in on this issue as well and I am aware many others are particularly focused on this project. I will certainly give it due consideration. I have received contact from the chief executives as well, and from Deputies across all parties and none on this road infrastructure and the advancement of these projects, but no decisions have been made on these yet.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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This is important from a road safety perspective. Approximately 60% of the improvements that will be carried out are improvements to the existing road network. The three bypasses form approximately 40% of the project, as the Minister will know. That is in line with the Department's guidelines. This is very important economically because it concerns the connectivity of two major cities, namely, Waterford and Limerick. It is an opportunity for Waterford to have an improved road network and improved transport connectivity with the west of Ireland, so it is important. I agree there is also a need to upgrade the N25, which is the Waterford to Cork route. Colleagues across the Waterford and Cork area have lobbied extensively for this over the past number of years.

I was in contact with the Ballymacarbry road action group. Ballymacarbry is a village in County Waterford. People there have worked with the local council, which has put in a funding request for traffic-calming measures outside the school. These are also important issues. Will the Minister look into that and look favourably on it? It is a very important improvement for people who live in the Ballymacarbry area and parish.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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Notwithstanding what the Minister and my colleague Deputy Cullinane said, Waterford feels like the poor relation when it comes to roads funding if we consider active travel in the county, moneys for road maintenance across the city and county, the N24 and the R672 that Deputy Cullinane also mentioned. The N25 is widely regarded as the most dangerous national road in the State and is in dire need of funding for safety works. Will the Minister ensure that it is prioritised for funding under the NDP as a matter of urgency? There have been too many accidents with loss of life and great injury. We need to see action on it sooner rather than later.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for his engagement on this, including with Councillor Máirín McGrath and me, and with Deputy Murphy from Tipperary South. This project has got so far. It is small money in the overall context to keep it alive and to have it progressed from the stage it is at now. This very important route goes from Waterford to Rosslare right up to Foynes, including all the towns and villages in counties Tipperary, Kilkenny and Port Láirge it passes through. I support my colleagues. Deputy Cullinane was speaking about my parish when he mentioned the national school in Contae Phort Láirge. Traffic calming is badly needed there. It is an excellent school with excellent students. I am glad that the Deputy knows where it is.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí. I am aware of how important this is. We will have national roads announcements in the coming weeks. I mentioned €4.8 million was allocated in 2024. Just two weeks ago, on 14 February, €23.6 million was also allocated to Waterford as part of the regional and local roads allocations. I am aware of the importance of the N25 and the N24, which Deputy McGrath mentioned and about which I spoke to him directly. That is a very significant road improvement scheme in the context of the whole network, involving approximately 60 km. It requires significant funding to move this on. There will be many competing projects within this year's programme. Within the past few days, I received a draft submission, which I intend to review in detail. I expect to make announcements in the coming weeks in this regard.

Specifically on the action group Deputy Cullinane mentioned, I would be happy to interact with them if he forwards any correspondence he has to me.