The matter of the N24 road Upgrade Project was raised in the Dail yesterday.
It is understood that Tipperary County council has urged all Tipperary Oireachtas members to lobby for the project to be included in the National Development plan as a new motorway. In recent weeks, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has said that the emerging proposal was for the construction of a series of By Pass roads at towns impacted across county Tipperary rather than investing in a new motorway. The Minister had cited financial constraints in the decision making process.
“jettisoned as a result of issues relating to Tipperary town”
Yesterday, Tipperary TD Alan Kelly, asked the Taoiseach to confirm it the National Development Plan would be published by the end of next week. The Taoiseach said that it would not, as engagements between the Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath and Departmental ministers especially in transport and housing were ongoing. The government has previously confirmed that The NDP is scheduled to be published by the end of July. Deputy Kelly shared Tipperary Council’s concerns that the N24 upgrade, might be as he put it “jettisoned as a result of issues relating to Tipperary town”, which he noted has suffered badly from heavy goods traffic. Deputy Kelly said that It seems that a small bypass will be put in to Tipperary Town instead of continuing on the strategic corridor, which he said was critically important.
In response the Taoiseach said that he was aware of the strategic importance of the N24 as a strategic corridor. And he stated that he would relay that to the respective Ministers.
