BREAKING: Work on major Tipperary bypass will progress this year

Tipperary TD Michael Lowry has been informed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) that it is their intention to prioritise the Tipperary Town By-Pass over any other section of the new N24 Motorway and that funding has been provided to progress the project this year. 

Speaking as a member of the Transport and Communications Committee on Wednesday, Deputy Lowry told Nigel O’Neill, Director of Capital Programmes with the TII, that he had received a commitment from the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD, which is on the record of the Dáil, in relation to prioritising the section of the new carriageway between Cahir and Oola in Limerick, which incorporates Tipperary Town.

Deputy Lowry further stated that the TII had communicated to him that the project has gone to Pre-Decision Gate 1 status in the Public Spending Code. 

The Tipperary Deputy added that it has also been stated that TII’s focus would be on progressing by-passes and other projects that will contribute to achieving the "Town Centre First" objective and compact growth. 

"Can you confirm that Tipperary Town meets those criteria," asked Deputy Lowry, "and that the project will progress, that the project is a priority and that the element of it that incorporates the Tipperary Town By-Pass will be prioritised over any other section of the motorway?" 

Mr O’Neill: "We have allocated monies to Tipperary County Council this year to progress that work. It would be the intention, without prejudice to the entire design process, the Environmental Impact Assessment and the schemes that are brought to An Bord Pleanala in due course, to progress the Tipperary Town element first."

Deputy Lowry questioned if there is sufficient funding provided to Tipperary County Council to conclude that work, to which Mr O’Neill replied that funding has been provided to progress it this year.