Disappointment as N52 link road in Offaly ignored again

There was more disappointment for the people of Durrow outside Tullamore this week when Transport Infrastructure Ireland [TII] confirmed to Carol Nolan TD that there will be no funding this year for the N52 Tullamore to Kilbeggan Scheme.

TII say that while the proposed N52 Tullamore to Kilbeggan Scheme is included amongst a number of national road schemes that have been identified for consideration in the National Development Plan (NDP), the delivery programme for the N52 Scheme will be kept under review and will only be considered in terms of the overall funding envelope made available to TII for 2025.

The people of Durrow have been campaigning for the link route for years. However, they have experienced nothing but frustration and disappointment as the road has never been a priority for the Government.

At a meeting with local councillors Minister Eamon Ryan said that it could take 15 years before anything happens.

Offaly county Council had been working in partnership with Westmeath County Council in association with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to deliver the project. A preferred route was chosen and public consultations took place. But expected funding in 2022 never materialised and the project was unable to advance to the detailed design stage.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has confirmed to Deputy Nolan that it is not one of the schemes identified by the Minister for Transport for funding in 2024.

Deputy Nolan had called on TII and Minister Ryan to clarify the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the funding of the project earlier today.

However, in a response issued to the Independent TD, TII further clarified that while the scheme has been progressed to the level of an Emerging Preferred Option (Phase 2), it has not progressed to Phase 3 (Design & Environmental Evaluation):

“This is profoundly disappointing news as it now means that the community at Durrow and the road users who must travel this dangerous stretch of road will continue to be exposed to unnecessary levels of accidents and potential fatalities well into 2025 and likely beyond that,” said Deputy Nolan.

“TII have clearly laid the blame for this at the door of Minister Eamon Ryan and that is where we need to take our case with renewed force and commitment. It is entirely unacceptable to simply kill-off the advancement of this project because the minister is unwilling to spend or allocate money that will ultimately save lives,” concluded Deputy Nolan.