Mattie McGrath Demands Tipperary Bypass in NDP
Mattie McGrath criticised the long delay on a Tipperary bypass and demanded that a relief road be included in the National Development Plan. He argued the relief road is needed to stop 24-7 truck congestion, protect businesses and residents, and reduce air pollution.
McGrath called for a relief road for Tipperary Town to be added to the National Development Plan. He urged a commitment to deliver the bypass for the sake of the Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and ordinary residents to enable them to live, work and play in the town.
He said there had been hopes that the M24 junction section of the roadway would have been completed around Tipperary to provide relief, and criticised that no progress has been made so far. McGrath asked that the M24 junction be included and prioritised within national planning.
McGrath described heavy, around-the-clock truck congestion through the town, saying the volume of trucks makes it impossible to maintain the street and creates unacceptable levels of pollution. He emphasised the social and commercial harm to residents and businesses caused by the current traffic.
A responding speaker acknowledged the importance of the issue and said the minister had been positively disposed to bypasses and would consider the matter in the context of the National Development Plan. The respondent cited the McCroom bypass as an example of transformative environmental, sustainability and economic benefits, but warned that the major constraint is the financial framework.
Immediate demand
McGrath called for a relief road for Tipperary Town to be added to the National Development Plan. He urged a commitment to deliver the bypass for the sake of the Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and ordinary residents to enable them to live, work and play in the town.
M24 junction expectations
He said there had been hopes that the M24 junction section of the roadway would have been completed around Tipperary to provide relief, and criticised that no progress has been made so far. McGrath asked that the M24 junction be included and prioritised within national planning.
Impact on Tipperary Town
McGrath described heavy, around-the-clock truck congestion through the town, saying the volume of trucks makes it impossible to maintain the street and creates unacceptable levels of pollution. He emphasised the social and commercial harm to residents and businesses caused by the current traffic.
Government response and constraints
A responding speaker acknowledged the importance of the issue and said the minister had been positively disposed to bypasses and would consider the matter in the context of the National Development Plan. The respondent cited the McCroom bypass as an example of transformative environmental, sustainability and economic benefits, but warned that the major constraint is the financial framework.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Other speeches
Tego samego dnia All speeches from this day →
Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy decries BIM Music College redundancies and 'uberisation'
Richard O'Donoghue
Richard O'Donoghue urges five-year plan to fix housing
Richard Boyd Barrett
Richard Boyd Barrett exposes low pay for Oireachtas TV staff
Mark Daly
Mark Daly Declares Impartiality and Urges Strengthening Local Democracy
Gerard P. Craughwell
Gerard P. Craughwell demands review of pension rules hitting defence
Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy challenges plan to end the triple lock
Transcript
It's a long wait for the people of Tipperary for the bypass and for some measures to alleviate the huge problem of trucks mainly congesting the town on a 24-7 basis. We had hopes with Minister Eamon Ryan that the M24 junction section of that roadway would have been completed around Tipperary to give us a relief road but nothing happened. I'm asking now that this has to be included in the National Development Plan. We have to get this relief road for Tipperary Town for the sake of the Chamber of Commerce, the business people, the ordinary people to live and work and play in Tipperary Town. It's just unacceptable with the volume of trucks that are going through it and it's impossible to maintain the street, it's impossible to live on a nice pollution and then indeed air pollution. Will you please try and give a commitment that we will get this relief road for Tipperary Town. Thank you Deputy. Well first of all I thank you Deputy for raising what is a very important issue for Tipperary Town and more generally. I think you are correct in your recollections that the then Minister Eamon Ryan indicated that he was positively disposed to the bypass and he preferred bypasses as opposed to lengthy motorways. But progress has not been made so far to the degree that people would want. He will certainly be considering this in the context of the National Development Plan. Our experiences with earlier bypasses such as the McCroom bypass for example, environmentally and sustainability wise has been huge. In terms of the transformative for people in the McCroom, Balavorne and all other areas, it has changed people's lives as well as improving economic connectivity. So broadly speaking, we would favour this. The one major constraint of potential is the financial framework and so on. Thank you Deputy Catherine Connolly. Thank you Deputy Catherine Connolly. Thank you Deputy Catherine Connolly.