Vital N24 project will be delayed for years, says Waterford TD
The N24 was absent from the recent list of funding allocations for national roads.
A Waterford TD has said that the N24 Waterford to Cahir upgrade not receiving any share of the recently announced €633 million of funding is "devastating".
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien announced last week the major funding for national roads across the country, however, the N24 was absent from the list of allocations.
Upon announcing the funds, O'Brien said: "The allocations I’m announcing today will enable multiple new road projects on the national road network to progress, including those that are at or close to construction. This will improve regional connectivity, support economic development, and remove traffic from towns and communities across the country – making the roads safer for all users."
Of the €633 million allocated nationwide, Waterford received €8.4 million for various road projects.
Sinn Féin TD for Waterford David Cullinane expressed shock and disappointment that funding was not allocated in the recent round of funding to the N24 Waterford to Cahir development.
He said the disappointment is compounded by an allocation of €50,000 to decommission the consultancy team and essentially remove them from the project.
Deputy Cullinane said: “This is devastating news and deeply disappointing. The N24 upgrade is vital for the entire Southeast. Kilkenny, Tipperary and Waterford City and County Councils were working together on this project.
“I convened a group of Oireachtas members from Waterford, Kilkenny, and Tipperary a number of weeks back so that we could better work together to advocate for funding for the N24 upgrade from Waterford to Cahir.
“I welcomed the commitment from all representatives to work together to lobby the Minister for Transport to fund the much-needed upgrade of the N24. It has been over a year since the preferred route, including bypasses of Carrick-on-Suir, Mooncoin, and Kilsheelan, was announced.
Deputy Cullinane added that the project needed funding of €7.9 million over the next three years with €2.2 million this year.
The project will now be delayed for years he said.
“It is clearly needed to improve road safety, reduce congestion, and improve connectivity across the region. It is regrettable that road safety has not been prioritised and nor was the economic need.”
He added that Ministers Butler and Cummins “need to step up to the plate”.
