Waterford Senator John Cummins is calling on the Government to upgrade the N24 route from Waterford to Limerick.
Speaking in the Seanad yesterday, Senator Cummins said the collision data for the road is higher than average and it's in serious need of a dual carriageway system.
The Transport Minister has committed to meeting with local Oireachtas members in relation to the N24, which links the south-east to the west.
The Fine Gael politician said that the average speed on the route is particularly slow.
"I am sure the Minister has been on this road and that he would agree it is one of the worst national primary routes in the country.
"The consultation documents for the Cahir to Limerick route, which closed last week, stated that the average speed of cars on the route currently stood at a pathetic 60 km/h to 65 km/h."
Senator Cummins said it's also an important connecting route for Rosslare Europort.
"The N24 is the main arterial route between Waterford and Limerick cities. It is an integral piece of infrastructure linking the western and mid-western regions with the south-east. It is probably even more important now in the context of Brexit and the onward connection to Rosslare Europort with direct links to Europe."
He added that there were many false starts in terms of progress.
"When I was in the University of Limerick, I travelled from Waterford for four years on this road and at that time there was talk about route selections. However, here we are 15 years later having further consultations on it.
"I know the Minister's party was supportive of this route as an alternative to the M20 linking Cork and Limerick but now that that is progressing there is a fear among some in the counties along the route - Limerick, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford - that this will be lost as part of a review of the capital plan."
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said that he has already met with people from Tipperary on the issue.
"I will meet the representatives from Tipperary. Again going back to my roots, I met a group from Tipperary town, which is close to my Ryan roots. That was not a matter of disrespect to others along the route. I said in the Dáil yesterday I am very happy to meet Oireachtas and council representatives about the N24."
