The Waterford to Glenmore road scheme is an important scheme for the south east. Residents in Wexford, Waterford and Kilkenny are concerned. A public meeting has been organised in a couple weeks’ time in June in Kilkenny. It has been organised by a nurse from Wexford and other local community members because they are so concerned about the fatalities that have happened on this stretch of the road over the course of the past number of years. I engaged with officials in Waterford City and County Councils but also in Kilkenny County Council. I understand that the cathaoirleach and CEO of Kilkenny County Council have written to the Minister, Darragh O'Brien, setting out the real road safety issues that are at play here. As Deputy Newsome Drennan referenced, there have been four fatalities since 2022 when the scheme was essentially paused. The scheme got funding for phases 1 and 2 but has not received any funding since 2022. It cannot progress onto stage 3 and stage 4 until funding is forthcoming. We were hoping it would get funding in this year's round of funding. That did not happen. A total of €728,000 is required for this year. That would have made a huge difference to advance this project, but as Kilkenny County Council has said, the project is essentially stalled. There was a fatality again recently on that stretch of the road. Local residents and local communities are concerned about this stretch of the road. It makes perfect sense from every perspective, economically as well, to link what is the Waterford city bypass and the New Ross bypass. From an economic perspective, it is necessary, but from a road safety perspective, it is absolutely necessary. I ask that the decision not to fund that project this year be revisited, the funding be forthcoming and the local authorities in the region be allowed to progress this onto the next stage.

Sentiment score: 0.05

In the Minister of State's response she said TII has identified three high-collision sites. That in and of itself tells us how important this road scheme is. Three high-collision sites have been identified because, I would imagine, of the number of fatalities that have happened since 2022. We also have local authorities in the area telling the Minister for Transport very clearly that the road is operating beyond capacity. We have very concerned motorists and very concerned members of the community who are raising these issues, we have the local authority at the highest level raising public safety concerns and road safety concerns and we have the TII identifying high-collision sites on stretches of that road, yet the funding has not come this year. I just find it incredible and cannot get my head around the fact that what is only €750,000 has not been allocated this year to proceed this project. I ask that the Minister of State take this back to the Minister for Transport and urge that he reconsider and provide the funding for this year.

Sentiment score: 0.12