John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. While there are many challenges across the transport sector, not least in aviation, which I know we will speak about soon, but in the coach tourism sector and across the tourism sector as a whole, there are also many opportunities. The upgrade of the N24, which Senator O'Reilly referenced in her contribution, is one of those opportunities I would like to speak about. The N24 is the main arterial route between Waterford and Limerick cities. It is an integral piece of infrastructure linking the western and mid-western regions with the south east. It is probably even more important now in the context of Brexit and the onward connection to Rosslare Europort with direct links to Europe.

I am sure the Minister has been on this road and that he would agree it is one of the worst national primary routes in the country. The consultation documents for the Cahir to Limerick route, which closed last week, stated that the average speed of cars on the route currently stood at a pathetic 60 km/h to 65 km/h. Data show collisions on the route are higher than average. As the Minister knows, the target in the national planning framework is that inter-urban travel speed should be at least 90 km/h. We have a long way to go to get this route is up to the required standards.

There have been many false dawns in relation to this project. When I was in the University of Limerick, I travelled from Waterford for four years on this road and at that time there was talk about route selections. However, here we are 15 years later having further consultations on it. I know the Minister's party was supportive of this route as an alternative to the M20 linking Cork and Limerick but now that that is progressing there is a fear among some in the counties along the route - Limerick, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford - that this will be lost as part of a review of the capital plan. I ask the Minister for reassurances in that regard. In order to future proof this route post-2040, and for future generations, it has to be at a minimum of dual carriageway standard. It will also need to reduce travel times between Waterford and Cork cities via Cahir. There has been a request by Members from across the counties to meet with the Minister. I would appreciate it if he would accede to that request.

I support the comments by Senator Dooley on the provisions regarding e-scooters, which I understand will be part of the miscellaneous transport Bill. Perhaps in his concluding comments, the Minister might elaborate on the timelines for that.