Sinn Féin general election candidate Cllr. Conor D. McGuinness has sharply criticised the decision by the outgoing government to remove the N25 from the National Development Plan, effectively stalling any safety improvement works of scale on the national primary route that stretches the length of Waterford. He was speaking following a meeting with Transport Infrastructure Ireland to discuss the need for upgrades to both the N25 and N72.
McGuinness said:
“It is unforgivable that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael representatives – particularly Mary Butler and John Cummins – allowed the N25 to quietly slip off the funding agenda under their government’s 2030 National Development Plan.
“Were they simply not paying attention, or do they believe that this national primary road isn’t in need of safety upgrades?
“The Irish Times recently named the N25 as the most dangerous national primary route in the state, and there are frequent crashes on numerous stretches of the road – in particular in the mid-county and West Waterford. The statistics speak for themselves, and the whole of Waterford knows just how often serious incidents occur on the road. I met with TII to discuss the N25 and N72 and they were very clear with me – they cannot fund the required works when the N25 is not a priority under the NDP.
“Inclusion in the National Development Plan is vital for a project to be prioritised for significant capital funding. That Waterford’s FF and FG representatives failed to prevent the N25 to be removed from the 2030 NDP speaks volumes about their interest in the mid-county and West Waterford, and their lack of influence in their respective parties.
“If elected to the Dáil I will seek an urgent review of the NDP and for the inclusion of both the N25 and N72 for much needed safety upgrades.”
Conor D. McGuinness TD 