Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this matter and I know the road in question very well. I would like to explain that once funding arrangements have been put in place through the Department of Transport under the Roads Act 1993, the planning, design and construction of an individual national road is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, in conjunction with the local authorities. Overall, TII is responsible for the delivery of the national roads programme in accordance with Project Ireland 2040 and the NDP. In that context, TII provides the Department with regular updates on its delivery of the national roads programme. Within the timeframe given in the lead-up to this debate, the following information is the most up-to-date information available to me.

Within the overall context of Project Ireland 2040, the NDP was developed to underpin the successful implementation of the national planning framework, NPF. This provides the strategic and financial framework for the national roads programme for the period from 2018 to 2027. The focus of TII's activities is, accordingly, being directed towards the development of the major national road improvement schemes that are included in the NDP, along with the maintenance of the existing national road network. The programme for Government includes a commitment to bring forward the review of the NDP from 2022 and to use that review to set out an updated NDP for the period out as far as 2030. The review of the NDP will be aligned with the NPF and Project Ireland 2040 and work is under way within the Department of Transport to contribute to this review. I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight that all projects, including those listed in the NDP or any revision to the NDP, require statutory approval and compliance with the public spending code. As the Senator said, the N24 is a national primary road connecting Limerick to Waterford, running through Tipperary town, Cahir, Carrick-on-Suir and Clonmel. The proposed N24 Cahir to Limerick junction project would consist of approximately 35 km of road improvement works between Cahir in Tipperary and Limerick Junction. The study area associated with the project would include bypasses of Tipperary town and Bansha. As someone with an uncle who ran a business in Tipperary town for many years and who is familiar with the congestion in the town, I fully understand the Senator's concerns. The proposed N24 Waterford to Cahir project would consist of approximately 60 km of road improvement works. The strategic value of these projects would address a core priority under the NPF, which is to enhance and upgrade accessibility between urban centres of population and their regions.

The project benefits include the provision of more reliable and safer journeys. Both projects would aim to enhance regional accessibility and improve connectivity between Limerick and Waterford. The N24 Cahir to Limerick Junction project would also provide better connectivity with public transport through direct access to the train stations in Cahir and Limerick Junction, which would encourage the use of public transport in the area. Improved journey time certainty would act as an enabler of economic growth and urban environment improvements would have positive social benefits. In addition, the proposed N24 Waterford to Cahir project would improve the quality of life of commuters and local residents, through improved journey times and would connect to the Kilkenny greenway, which would run from New Ross to Waterford city.

On the proposed N24 Cahir to Limerick project, technical advisers were appointed by Tipperary County Council and are undertaking early planning and design work. A public consultation on the project’s constraints was carried out by Tipperary County Council in the first quarter of 2021, informing the options. The selection stage with the shortlisted transport corridors is expected to be unveiled in mid-2021. Tipperary County Council has advised that it will be going to public consultation on the project on 25 June until 6 August. On the proposed N24 Waterford to Cahir project, Arup was appointed by Kilkenny County Council as technical advisers. Option selection has commenced and a virtual public consultation on constraints commenced on 4 May 2021, running until 1 June 2021.