More demands for upgraded road between Kilbeggan and Offaly's county town

FURTHER demands have been made for the planned new road from Kilbeggan to Tullamore to be provided.

The appeals were made at a Budget 2025 briefing in the Bridge House, Tullamore hosted by Fine Gael general election candidate Cllr John Clendennen and addressed by Minister of State Neale Richmond.

Anthony Hanniffy, Tullamore Chamber of Commerce, said his organisation was on a committee which continued to seek the upgrade of the N52 linking Kilbeggan village with Offaly's county town.

“We have a road from here to Kilbeggan and it's very, very dangerous,” Mr Hanniffy told Minister Richmond.

He recalled that the project had been approved and then shelved because of the economic crash, before being revived and then put “down again” by the former Green Party leader, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan.

Everyone was in agreement that the project, which will involve an entirely new roadway, should get the go-ahead.

Minister Richmond said he would “see what can be done” and added that roads are as vital a part of Ireland's infrastructure as rail is because roads are needed for buses.

Cllr Clendennen (pictured on the right below with Minister Richmond) said connectivity had been improved, especially with the train schedule in Tullamore.

He said he appreciated that the community support is there in the Durrow area for the new road between Kilbeggan and Tullamore but said the argument should be made for greater connectivity from north to south “right through the spine of the Midlands”.

The election candidate pointed out that the motorways were only running from east to west across the Midlands.

Dominic Doheny, leading lobbyist in both Tullamore Chamber and the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) said the problem with delivering big infrastructural projects in Ireland was being caused by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER).

“The lead-in time for most infrastructure is between seven and 10 years, that's just the way it is because it's so big,” said Mr Doheny.

He warned that the country “is going to be driven into another recession” and described DPER as the “major obstacle” because it had to sign off on all projects proposed by other government departments.

“That's where there's major hold-ups,” said Mr Doheny. “That blockage has to be released and you can announce €3 billion or €10 billion [for investment] but it's not going to happen.”

Minister Richmond said the DPER had been created because of the crash and now the Taoiseach Simon Harris “aspires quite clearly” to creating a new Department of Infrastructure.

“That department will have an absolute singular focus to direct, not just the on-time delivery of major projects under the National Development Plan, but every project, every school extension, every lane scheme, everything to make sure it's coming in as quickly as possible,” said Minister Richmond.