'Kilkenny extension of the northern ring road is extremely important', says Taoiseach

The Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said described the extension of Kilkenny's northern ring road as 'extremely important'.

He was speaking in the Dáil when he responded to a question by local TD Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere, who highlighted a number of long-awaited improvements to local infrastructure.

“To respond to Deputy Cleere, the Kilkenny extension of the northern ring road is extremely important. Kilkenny is a growing city and is very attractive to many people,” the Taoiseach said.

"Many people visit Kilkenny, including many Corkonians, but it needs the infrastructural development that goes with that. The Deputy spoke a great deal about road safety.

"There is no doubt enhancing roads enhances road safety and has eliminated a lot of injury and death on our roads. The transformation on our roads over the past 25 years was one of the factors that has brought our death rate way down. We are at a moment in time when the numbers are creeping back up, so we need to nip all that in the bud and get deaths back down again. Investing in roads will enable us to do that.

"I appreciate the focus the Deputy has put on the road safety aspect of the Waterford to Cahir road. On the various schemes he mentioned, we are committed in the programme for Government to expanding those and getting some traction on them."

Earlier, Deputy Cleere had welcomed the establishment of the Cabinet committee on infrastructure. He said he wanted to  highlight a couple of key projects in his constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny.

"The first is the Kilkenny northern ring road extension, completion of which is of vital strategic importance to Kilkenny. It will help to reduce congestion in the city centre and improve traffic safety and convenience. Lots of projects are ongoing in Kilkenny city and the completion of the ring road is vital to these progressing. I ask that this project be included in the updated NDP and fast-tracked accordingly for the development of the city," he said.

"The Ceann Comhairle will be aware that the Waterford to Glenmore road project has stalled in recent years. The scheme needs to be reviewed and progressed with funding made available. Safety is of massive importance here. Unfortunately, there was a tragic fatality on this road recently. I offer my condolences to the family of the deceased.

"Funding needs to be provided for the final phase of the N24 Waterford to Cahir road. Road safety needs to be improved along this road. A number of bypasses need to be provided in places such as Mooncoin. This infrastructure is strategically important for the south east as a region."