'We're all frustrated' - Piltown examines road issues in wake of tragedy
The crash on the N25 was discussed at the first meeting of the year for Piltown Municipal District.
Road safety was the dominating topic at the first meeting of 2025 for Piltown Municipal District in Ferrybank, outside Waterford.
Councillors discussed a raft of issues relating to road safety in the wake of a recent terrible tragedy.
The Council took a moment to pay tribute to Mary Grennan (née: Kirwan), a 75-year-old woman who died tragically on January 3, after a two car collision on the N25 at Luffany.
Each councillor extended their deepest sympathies and condolences to Mary's family.
Cathaoirleach, Cllr Ger Frisby said: "It brings into light what we have been shouting and roaring about here for the last 10 years in relation to the upgrades on that road and the preferred route that has been selected and unfortunately didn't get funding to go to Phase 3."
He continued: "We're all frustrated to bring it to the next stage and to ensure that the N25 is put on the funding stream for the coming year and that we can go to the Phase 3 of the preferred route and to get detailed design route on it because this is going to, unfortunately, keep happening unless something major is done about it."
Cllr Frisby asked for the Council to go to TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) about making the junction at the Rhu Glenn safer, commenting: "We don't want another family be going through what the Grennans and the Kirwans are suffering through today."
In late 2024, it was revealed that the Waterford to Cahir scheme would not be receiving any additional funding for the following year.
Council Officer John Tennyson told the meeting: "The next pathway there is to progress into Phase 3 but that will be subject to funding.
"The Carrick Road Safety Scheme also, is under judicial review and is likely to be well into 2025 before that issue is resolved."
He went on: "The North-South link road, Part 8 was adopted by Council at the December Plenary meeting."
Mr Tennyson stated that consultants had been appointed to the Abbey Road and Belmont Road link and are now procuring surveys.
Mr Tennyson said of the N25 speed camera: "I wrote to Chief Superintendent Dorothy Humphries of the National Roads Bureau regarding the criteria of the static speed camera in favour of the average speed cameras at Ballenclare junction."
Cllr Frisby said: "It's good to see [correspondence] back from Superintendent Humphries on the speed. Just in relation to what they're proposing in the static camera, personally I think in light of what we mentioned earlier on about the accident in Rhu Glenn, I think an average camera would definitely be needed on that section of road between Luffany and Glenmore Roundabout.
"That's where all the accidents are happening."
