Funding secured for the next phase of the N25 Waterford to Glenmore road scheme
Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere announcing the funding at the public meeting on the N25.
Funding for phase three of the N25 Waterford to Glenmore road scheme is to be made available later this year.
That is according to Carlow-Kilkenny TD Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere, who made the announcement at the N25 public meeting last Monday.
He told those gathered that he had been lobbying the Taoiseach and Transport Minister to progress the scheme.
“This evening in anticipation of this, knowing that we were going to be meeting, I just got confirmation that phase three, which will allow this project to go to the next phase, funding is going to be available later this year in 2026 to enable this project to go to the next step which is the design environmental evaluation.
“So it's one piece of the jigsaw. But it's a very important step because we can't progress without that step, so funding will be made available later on, which is fantastic,” said Deputy Cleere.
Earlier in the meeting, Kilkenny CEO Lar Power explained that they need a new road.
He said the scoping and strategic assessment and concept and feasibility and option selection phases of the project have been completed. The next phase - design and environmental evaluation had been paused, stalling the project.
The remaining phases are statutory processes and structural implementation.
Mr Power said they had sought €2.3 million from TII but thus far had not succeeded.
“We are very anxious to progress that, and we share your concerns,” said Mr Power.
Deputy Cleere called on his colleagues, councillors and the community to continue fighting to get the scheme delivered.
“I just want to implore my Oireachtas colleagues and all the councillors to keep the fight because people in this room are talking to you councillors and talking to your TDs. We are fighting as hard as we can for you.
“And, the last thing I want to say is it's going to be about delivery because it's one thing saying we are going to phase three, but we have to see this project delivered as quickly as possible and make that road as safe as possible for everybody here,” said deputy Cleere.
When asked by WLR’s Damien Tiernan, who chaired the meeting, how much money, Deputy Cleere said it would depend, but he thinks it will cost around €1million to get the project to the next stage.
“But the funding has been secured,” said Deputy Cleere.
