€31,218,438 investment programme announced for Tipperary’s roads for 2022

FIANNA Fáil TD for Tipperary, Jackie Cahill, has welcomed details of a €31,218,438 investment programme for 2022 for regional and local roads in County Tipperary.

This is an increase on last year’s package from the Department of Transport to Tipperary County Council, and most notably sees a considerable increase in funding for the improvement of existing road networks, which Deputy Cahill has been keen to see progress in recent years.

Deputy Cahill stated: “I am very pleased to receive confirmation from the Minister for Transport that Tipperary County Council has been allocated over €31million in this year’s Regional and Local Roads Programme. The main priority in 2022 continues to be the protection and renewal of the existing regional and local road network, and this is something I have been strongly pressing the Minister on since we entered Government over eighteen months ago.

“It is vital that Tipperary’s current road network meets the highest standards in terms of surface quality, drainage and safety and this can only be done by increased investment from Government level in the annual allocations to Tipperary County Council. As such, I am glad that my concerns have been taken on board by the Minister and that over €16.5million has been allocated to road restoration and improvement works for 2022, which is up substantially from €15.2million in 2021.”

Deputy Cahill continued to say: “Other notable features of this year’s allocation includes the continuation of the Community Improvement Scheme. €983,400 will be invested in this scheme this year, which will allow dead end lanes in rural areas to be resurfaced and improved. I am regularly contacted by rural people looking for improvement works on their local public lanes, and this will make a big difference to a lot of households who will benefit from this.

On the progression of new roads for the county, Cahill said: “On top of the considerable funding going toward roads improvements, and the €850,000 that will assist in the rehabilitation of a number of bridges, I am also delighted to confirm that further funding has been secured to progress two key roads projects in the county. The Thurles Inner Relief Road has received an allocation of €30,000 and the Latteragh Upgrade is getting a further €120,000 under the Strategic Regional and Local Roads initiative. While this funding will not complete these jobs, it proves that the pressure I have been placing on my Government colleagues is keeping these projects on the top of the agenda.

“While the focus is very much on improving the roads we have, I am continuing my work as Tipperary’s Government TD to ensure that these strategic developments happen and I will continue to work with colleagues in Government to see these projects progress”, Cahill concluded.