Sinn Féin TD for Waterford David Cullinane has called on the Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien to issue a cast-iron guarantee that the N24 and N25 upgrades will be funded this year.

Deputy Cullinane was responding to the Minister for Transport’s ‘non-committal’ reply to a parliamentary question yesterday evening.

Deputy Cullinane said:

“The N24 from Waterford to Limerick and the N25 route to Cork are in major need of upgrades. This is important from a road safety perspective. About 60% of the proposals for the N24 are to improve the existing network, which we know is dangerous in parts. The other 40% of works are to facilitate bypasses to improve travel time and reduce congestion in our towns and villages. These major roads are important economically. The N24 upgrade will improve the connectivity of Waterford and Limerick, and the N25 will improve connectivity with Cork, with all of the benefits that this will bring for businesses in Waterford and the south east.”

“The N24 project is a priority for all of the local councils, and the project needs funding of €7.9 million over the next three years”, he continued. The N24 upgrade in particular is a priority for elected representatives from Waterford, Kilkenny, and Tipperary, and we will be writing to the Minister today to stress the importance of this project to the region. I will continue to work collaboratively with all Oireachtas colleagues in the south east to champion Waterford and the region.”

Minister O’Brien said: “I have just recently received a submission in relation to the national roads and future funding for that. I’ll be assessing that in the coming weeks. I’ll be giving it due consideration, certainly. I have received contact from the Chief Executives as well, and deputies across all parties and none in relation to this road infrastructure and the advancement of these projects, but no decisions have been made on it yet.”

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