National Development Plan and N24
Alan Kelly asked whether the revised NDP would be published before recess and sought a guarantee that the N24 corridor would remain in it. The Taoiseach said the plan would not be finished before recess but was close to finalisation, with transport and housing still under discussion.
Will the Taoiseach confirm to the House whether the new revised national development plan, NDP, will be published before the recess next week? Along with other Deputies and Senators from Tipperary, I had a meeting with Tipperary County Council yesterday evening where there was deep concern that the N24, a very important strategic corridor supported by all the local authorities, could be jettisoned. It is in the national planning framework, the southern regional authority and all the county development plans. This is an incredibly important project. It opens up the south east and the mid-west and has huge strategic value for investment and a whole range of other things. There is a story going around that it might be jettisoned as a result of issues relating to Tipperary town, which has suffered so badly from heavy goods traffic. It seems that a small bypass will be put in there instead of continuing on the strategic corridor, which is critically important.
Comment on this
The Waterford to Cahir and Cahir to Limerick Junction proposals are going forward. Will the Taoiseach commit that this strategic corridor will remain part of the NDP?
Comment on this
My understanding is that the NDP will not be finished before the recess. Some further work must be deliberated on. It is very close to finalisation. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is in discussions with line Ministers across different Departments, which the Deputy will be aware of given his previous experience. In particular, he is in discussions with the Minister for Transport on the full range of transport initiatives from public transport to roads. He is also in discussions with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage because there will also be a significant housing programme as part of the housing for all strategy. I refer to the construction of social and affordable housing and the development of cost-rental housing on a very significant scale. Therefore, the NDP wants to encompass the very substantial step changes in policy that will result. I am aware of the strategic importance of the N24 as a strategic corridor. I will relay that to the Ministers.