Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. It is always nice when you try to bring up a local issue that there is a Minister of State present who knows the area quite well and who knows the road I will be discussing.

The N24, as most people would know, is the main road from Limerick to Waterford. It is the one road in the country connecting two cities which is in real need of upgrade. It has had a history of getting to a certain stage in design, development and consultation but not in delivery. Anyone who lives in the area will remember that in 2004 and 2005, we went through the consultation process but in the end it was not delivered. We have seen huge developments in infrastructure in other areas since then.

We are at a key juncture where the road is divided into two sections. There is the section from Limerick to Cahir, which is slightly ahead of the section from Cahir to Waterford. This is a critical point because we have a public consultation at 3 p.m. on Friday and I would encourage anyone to go and see what route options there will be and to see what the development of this project will be.

This is part of the national development plan, NDP, which the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, is reviewing. This project is a key part of the NDP and the worry for us in Tipperary is that the project will not continue. There are a number of elements to the project that are a real concern. This is a priority route between Limerick and Waterford. It is a major connection between the two cities. It goes on to Rosslare Europort and it has a connection to Europe from there, which is very significant post Brexit. However, 80% of this road goes through Tipperary and it has a knock-on effect for the economy of the county.

Later today, the chief executive of Tipperary County Council, Joe McGrath, the vice chairperson of Tipperary County Council, Mary Hanna Hourigan and I are meeting the Tánaiste to discuss the development of Tipperary from an economic point of view and to discuss where it can go from the point of view of his role as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. This is a significant part of that development. The people in Tipperary want that commitment from the Government and from the Minister for Transport. In fairness, he has been good at meeting groups and councillors to discuss this but we need to make sure that project stays on the NDP.

It is a major project for the region but for Tipperary in particular. There is an element to it which is significant for the people of Tipperary town, which is for the town to be bypassed. Anyone who knows the area knows about the amount of traffic that goes through Tipperary town every day. They have been sent up the hill before with a promise of a bypass and the congestion in the town centre being solved. We need to make sure we deliver on it this time and that part of this project includes a special arrangement to facilitate the bypass for Tipperary town. When the review of the NDP happens next month, it is important the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, specifies that the bypass of Tipperary town will be a priority, in conjunction with the full N24 project.

Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail)
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We can all identify with the phrase about the road to Tipperary, and according to the Senator the Minister of State knows his roads in Tipperary as well.

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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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.

Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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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.

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Senator has made excellent points on this matter in a very strong way, as he always does. I will be delighted to convey to the Minister the Senator's views, and those of the people of Tipperary, on this very important project.