The announcement by the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, regarding the Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, national roads allocation for 2026 is expected next week. I urge the Taoiseach to prioritise the N24 Waterford to Cahir project.
It is an essential piece of infrastructure for Tipperary, Waterford, Kilkenny and the whole south-east region.
We have just endured one of the worst years for fatalities nationwide. The N24 in Tipperary alone, which is just 65 km of roadway, or 1% of our county's road network, accounts for 25% of our road deaths. That is a shocking statistic - 1% of the network is causing a quarter of fatalities. That reality alone demands immediate intervention. One fatality is one too many. We sympathise with all the families.
This appeal comes not just from me; it has the backing of Oireachtas Members across the three counties. Over the past 20 years, €10.7 million of public money has been spent already on scoping, assessments and everything else. Without sufficient allocation for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, that investment will be wasted and the project will stall yet again. While last year's national development sectoral plan included a welcome commitment to progressing this project, it is now time to turn commitment to delivery. Kilkenny County Council is the lead authority but the N24 is a lifeline for the entire region, connecting Waterford and Limerick to the ports at Foynes and Rosslare and supporting thousands of daily commuters, freight users and local communities.
I also acknowledge the ongoing work of Tipperary County Council roads section, including Liam Brett, John Nolan and their colleagues. Some €3 million is urgently required this month from the Department to prevent the project collapsing. We cannot allow the N24 to be shelved again, as it was in 2002 and 2012. If funding is withheld in 2026, it could take more than a decade to return to the current stage of readiness. Surveys, route options and a preferred transport solution have all been completed at taxpayers' expense. The preferred route proposes a 38% offline and 52% online upgrade. While I have concerns about elements of this near Clonmel, Kilsheelan and even Knockagh near Cahir, they can be reviewed when the scheme progresses to An Coimisiún Pleanála. We simply cannot afford to lose this project again. We must remember the human impact. Several families and landowners face land being sterilised, with some being threatened with their houses being demolished. They are also stressed, so it needs to come to an end. A further €9 million in the next three to four years will bring the project through the statutory planning process. The existing contracts with consultants-----
