Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is correct that public consultation ended on 1 June. The second public consultation is starting this Friday on routes for the first section between Limerick and Cahir, which is hugely important. I welcome what the Minister of State said about public transport and rail routes. The route from Clonmel to Waterford is hugely significant and the Minister can play a key role in that project. I ask the Minister of State to get the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to reply to me on this matter.

The Taoiseach spoke a number of weeks ago about the bypass in Tipperary town and he created a certain level of confusion because he spoke about a separate bypass south of the town. That goes against the overall plan for the N24 because the routes would have to be north of Tipperary town, due to the layout of the region. I ask the Minister of State to go back to the Department of Transport or speak to the Minister and provide some clarity on whether the bypass of Tipperary town will be part of the N24 and not a separate bypass. It has to be done in conjunction with the full layout of the road. That is critically important. The people of Tipperary town have been waiting almost 20 years to get congestion off their roads and this is the opportunity to do it. It is key that we get it done. It is important for the people of the area and I urge the Minister for Transport to commit to it next month.