Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan today announced €2million for the route selection process of the N24 which goes from Waterford to Cahir in Co. Tipperary.
The funding for the progression of the route was announced by the Minister at a meeting with Oireachtas members from the region.
The primary objective of this tranche of funding for 2022 is to prevent ‘land paralysis’ around the route which is where a road has not had an exact route selected which results in multiple swathes of land being unable to be utilised.
Speaking after the announcement, Waterford Green Party TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh said:
“I have engaged with Minister Ryan on this issue along with Minister Malcolm Noonan in Kilkenny. I’m not convinced that in the long term, ongoing spending on roads infrastructure is the way to adequately address our transport emissions, however, I do welcome the clarity the residents along the route will now have. Today’s funding will go towards the route selection process for the N24. Residents along potential routes have been living in a state of limbo the last few years. These residents will now have clarity around the status of their properties and can move forward.”
“I’ll continue to promote increased funding in sustainable transport modes including the Waterford to Limerick rail corridor and public transport in general for rural Ireland. This is the direction of travel we need to be moving in in order to address the climate challenge.”
It's expected work on route option selection will resume in the coming months and should be complete by late 2023.
