The Rural Independent TDs have strongly criticized Fianna Fail and Fine Gael because they say the other government parties have enabled the Greens to indefinitely halt at least eight major new road projects that were scheduled and promised for construction this year.
These shelved projects include planned upgrades to roads in Cork, Waterford, Offaly, Limerick, Tipperary, and Galway, all of which are national roads and were earmarked for investment under various government plans, including the National Development Plan.
Speaking from Tipperary, the leader of the Rural Independent Group, Mattie McGrath, stated:
“The deliberate derailing of a minimum of eight critical national road projects and potentially nineteen all across the country by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan, who holds responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme, starkly reveals the Green Party’s unwavering policy to obstruct road projects, disregarding the poor condition and inherent dangers posed by these routes.”
“Amidst much back-clapping, the government announced €5.1bn for capital spending on new national road projects from 2021 to 2030 as part of the NDP. However, the stark reality is that the Green Party is currently impeding the utilization of this allocated funding for new road projects. Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has signalled a complete suspension of planning works on eight major road schemes due to a severe shortage of funds. In fact, the situation is so dire that the chief executive of TII, Peter Walsh, declared in November that the budget allotted to roads in the National Development Plan (NDP) – approximately €1.1 billion for the period 2021-2025 – would offer only “limited scope” for advancing these crucial schemes.”
“Nothing has changed since last November; in fact, it appears that the Green Party is digging their heels in, facilitated at cabinet level by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael ministers, indefinitely blocking critical and previously promised road projects. This is nothing short of yet another attack on rural communities and motorists.”
“The Rural Independent Group has learned from TII that works on at least eight major schemes have been shelved. They are, N2 Clontibret to the Border; N4 Mullingar to Longford; N11/M11 Junction 4 to Junction 14; N24 Waterford to Cahir; N25 Carrigtwohill to Middleton; N25 Waterford to Glenmore; N52 Tullamore to Kilbeggan; and N59 Clifden to Maam Cross. Another route being held up with environmental concerns is the N20 primary link project between Cork and Limerick, despite the route having a particularly poor safety record involving fatal and severe injury collisions.”
“For example, the decision to axe funding for the upgrade of the N25 (Cork to Waterford Road) between Carrigtwohill and Midleton lacks any logic, as it is the fourth busiest road in the country, with 40,000 vehicles a day using the road. To highlight the madness of this situation, it is worth pointing out that some of these projects were granted planning ten years ago, but not only are they now in jeopardy, but the likelihood is that they will never proceed at all.”
“There is no doubt that the Green Party’s fanatical anti-road agenda is behind this lack of investment, despite boosted taxation revenues and prior government commitments. The Green Party’s push for transportation options focused solely on public transport and active travel, while neglecting essential major road developments, poses a significant risk to rural and regional sufficiency, economic development, and road safety.”
“We are now calling on the leaders of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to make independent statements outlining why they are allowing this situation to develop. It is imperative that they address whether they will have the matter discussed at cabinet – with a view to allowing all these projects to proceed – as originally planned and promised this year. The Irish people deserve transparency and accountability from their leaders regarding the future of these vital road projects,” concluded Deputy Mc Grath.
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