| Q1.1 | Who is running the project? |
| A1.1 | Tipperary County Council in conjunction with Limerick City and County Council are progressing the development of the N24 Cahir to Limerick Junction and Oola Transport Project. The Project is being managed by Mid West National Roads Design Office with Arup appointed as lead consultant to advance the project through the planning and design process. |
| Q1.2 | Why is the project needed? |
| A1.2 | The N24 is a strategic corridor from Limerick to Waterford and is particularly important for the enhancement of accessibility to the towns it passes through, namely Tipperary Town, Cahir, Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir and their rural hinterland. The Project endeavours to resolve the existing transport and safety issues along the section of the N24 between Cahir and Brooks’ Bridge, Oola. |
| Q1.3 | The Project name is confusing – why does the project extend so far west of Limerick Junction? |
| A1.3 | The extents of the project and the study area were extended on the western end from Limerick Junction to include Oola as there are some safety concerns with the existing railway bridge on the eastern side of the village on the existing N24 which were identified during Phase 1 of the project. The extension of the study area from Phase 1 to 2 was approved as part of the review process with TCC, Mid West NRDO and TII. The title of the Project has been updated to reflect the full extents of the N24 corridor under consideration. |
| Q1.4 | What does “Preferred Transport Solution” mean? |
| A1.4 | The Preferred Transport Solution is a combination of the alternatives and options that represent the best balance and most benefit for the project. It is an integrated sustainable transport solution that includes active travel measures for walking and cycling, improvements to public transport, demand management measures and upgraded and new road infrastructure for the communities along the N24 transport corridor from west of Brooks Bridge in County Limerick to Cahir in County Tipperary. |
| Q1.5 | How was the Preferred Transport Solution selected? |
| A1.5 | Since the conclusion of Public Consultation No. 2 on Alternatives and Options, the design team have completed their review of the feedback received from the public and undertaken a systematic assessment of the Alternatives and Options under the 6 multi-criteria headings, namely Economy, Safety, Accessibility & Social Inclusion, Integration, Environment and Physical activity, and selected a Preferred Transport Solution to deliver a reliable and sustainable transport solution for the N24 corridor between Cahir in County Tipperary and Brooks Bridge in County Limerick. |
| Q1.6 | When will the landowners directly affected by the Preferred Transport Solution be contacted? |
| A1.6 | Every landowner directly affected by the Preferred Transport Solution was contacted by letter as part of the Public Display event. If your property is within the Preferred Corridor as shown on our website interactive map and the public display material and you have not received a letter, please let us know. |
| Q1.7 | When is the earliest timeframe that the project could be built? |
| A1.7 | The Project is currently programmed to have a draft of the planning documentation to be submitted to An Bord Pleanála (ABP) complete by the end of the 2025. It will then be subject to government approval for submission to ABP. Once the planning application is submitted, ABP dictate the Project timeline for the Oral Hearing (if one is required) and their decision date. If a positive decision is made by ABP, and there are no court challenges to this decision, and funding for construction is approved by government it will subsequently take approximately two years to complete the detailed design and appoint a contractor. The duration for construction is expected to take three years. Until the planning process is complete we have no certainty on when construction will commence. |
| Q1.8 | When will the project be submitted for planning permission and get planning consent? |
| A1.8 | The Project is currently programmed to have a draft of the planning documentation to be submitted to An Bord Pleanála (ABP) complete by the end of the 2025. It will then be subject to government approval for submission to ABP. Once the planning application is submitted An Bord Pleanála, they dictate the project timeline for the Oral Hearing (if one is required) and their decision date.. |
| Q1.9 | Why is the project starting again from a blank canvas? What has happened to the previous project? |
| A1.9 | The previous project was developed and assessed over 10 years ago and a lot may have changed in those years in terms of constraints and people’s movements (travel for work, education and recreation). It is important to start from a blank canvas to fully understand what the transport issues are, what are the trip generators and attractors and what is the most optimal transport solution. |
| Q1.10 | Can the section around Tipperary Town be prioritised and are interim measures being examined as part of this project that could help to improve traffic flow through Tipperary Town? |
| A1.10 | The transport issues along the full extents of the study area have been assessed and a Preferred Transport Solution identified. The transport issues at Tipperary Town were part of these studies and the proposed N24 element of the road component of the Preferred Transport Solution provides a bypass of the town. It is important to note that there are safety and transport issues along the full extents of the Project which also need to be considered and addressed. All transport modes including walking and cycling facilities and improved public transport have been considered as part of the Preferred Transport Solution. The phasing of the construction of the proposed N24 and the possible prioritisation of the section around Tipperary Town is being considered and assessed as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report but currently it is envisaged it will be constructed as one. Prioritising Tipperary Town will not alter the planning process and the Project in its entirety needs to be assessed as part of the EIAR being submitted to An Bord Pleanála. |
| Q1.11 | Has my house been given the same level of importance as other constraints when selecting the preferred transport solution? |
| A1.11 | Your house is an important constraint and has been considered among all the constraints. |
| Q1.12 | Who is carrying out the environmental assessments on the options? |
| A1.12 | A large team of specialists are conducting the environmental assessments for the project. The numerous disciplines and their relevant specialists are listed below. Landscape and Visual – Brady Shipman Martin Ecology – Scott Cawley Ltd. Archaeology and Cultural Heritage – Irish Archaeological Consultancy (IAC) Human Beings and Population – Optimize Consultants Air Quality – Arup Climate – Arup Noise and Vibration – AWN Consulting Soils and Geology – Arup Hydrogeology – Arup Hydrology – Hydro Environmental Ltd. Agronomy – Curtin Agricultural Consultants Human Health – Corporate Health Ireland |
| Q1.13 | When will the planning permissions, which are currently frozen due to comments from this Project, be unfrozen? When will the current planning referrals area be refined to the preferred option corridor? |
| A1.13 | Planning reviews will be undertaken on all planning applications of interest throughout the duration of the project. Following the commencement of Public Consultation No. 2 – Alternatives and Options, the area of interest for planning referrals was refined from the constraints study area to a buffer around the proposed Option Corridors. Since the Preferred Transport Solution has now been selected, the area of interest has again been refined down to a buffer around the Preferred Option Corridor for the road component. |
| Q1.14 | Can a member of the project team be contacted by the public or their representative to ascertain if a proposed planning application will be affected by the project? |
| A1.14 | Yes, our project liaison officer is available for the full duration of the project to answer any questions the public and interested parties may have in relation to the project. The project team will be able to advise of any potential conflicts between the proposed planning application and this project. |
| Q1.15 | Who finally decides to give planning or not? |
| A1.15 | The decision to give planning will be made by An Bord Pleanála. |
| Q1.16 | What type of surveys will be undertaken on my land? |
| A1.16 | As part of the Design and Environmental Evaluation stage of the project a number of field surveys, including environmental, topographical and hydrographical surveys will be undertaken in the coming months within an area which includes, but is not limited to, the corridor for the road component for the Preferred Transport Solution. We are contacting individual landowners who are affected by the preferred option once it has been selected. |
| Q1.17 | What public transportation solutions are included? |
| A1.17 | Improvement to both the bus and rail public transport network has been assessed as part of the selection process. In terms of Bus, the project can facilitate the improvement for Bus Services with improved journey times due to removal of congestion along the network and improved quality of the road. In consultation with the NTA the following will be considered during Phase 3 of the project with the provision of improved road infrastructure: Provide more inter-urban bus services and ensure suitable connectivity to the towns and villages along this route Improve local bus services in Tipperary Town and Cahir Potential to provide new bus routes Departure and arrival times linked to typical working patterns In terms of rail, the project will provide enhanced connectivity to Limerick Junction Railway Station and enable the provision of park and ride facilities at the train station helping transform it into a mobility hub where all modes of transport can interchange. In consultation with the NTA and Irish Rail there is the potential for the following: Provision of a mobility hub at Limerick Junction Improved rail services, with no interchange between Limerick and Waterford, stopping at all stations along the Limerick to Waterford Line, including Tipperary Town and Cahir which fall within the study area Frequencies of at least 1 train per hour during peak periods Departure and arrival times linked to typical working patterns. |
| Q1.18 | What is Active Travel and what facilities are being provided for pedestrians and cyclists? |
| A1.18 | Active Travel means walking or cycling as part of a purposeful journey. Walking as part of a commute to work, cycling to the shop, or scooting to school are all considered Active Travel, whereas walking or cycling for recreational purposes are not. The provision of safe infrastructure to support Active Travel such as segregated cycling and walking facilities can also help alleviate congestion and meet climate action objectives by providing viable alternatives and connectivity with existing public transport infrastructure. The benefits of Active Travel include health benefits as well as environmental, economic and social benefits. The active travel facilities are shown on the mapping published as part of Design Update No. 3 at Public Display No. 6. |
| A1.19 | If you provide all the proposed public transport components of the Preferred Transport Solution, why do you need to build a new road? |
| Q1.19 | Our studies to date have shown that Public Transport Improvements (Bus and Rail) in isolation will not resolve the transport issues identified and meet the project objectives but they do form part of an overall transport solution to deliver an overall sustainable transport solution which caters for all modes. |
| Q1.20 | Who made the decision on the Preferred Transport Solution? |
| A1.20 | Having assessed all of the constraints, issues identified, and feedback received from the public consultation, the design team, which includes a team of environmental specialists, made a recommendation on the Preferred Transport Solution to the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee comprises senior management from Tipperary County Council, Mid West National Roads Design Office, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the design team. |
| Q1.21 | Where is the design? |
| A1.21 | Since the publication of the Design Update No. 1 in January 2023 for the Preferred Transport Solution in May 2022, the project team have been progressing the design of the active travel, demand management and road components of the Preferred Transport Solution. The design of the Active Travel component has been progressed and is shown on the design update drawings linked below. The 100m corridor for the road component published in January 2023 has also been reviewed following detailed consideration of landowner engagement, stakeholder feedback, environmental surveys and design development, and the October 2024 corridor for the road component diverges at several locations. This will include more detailed development of the road geometry, junction design, access arrangements, structures, drainage and boundary treatment. |
| Q1.22 | Can the route of the road component be changed? |
| A1.22 | Extensive studies and stakeholder engagement have been undertaken and it is unlikely that there will be major modifications to the route of the proposed N24, however, ongoing studies and the information received from the public may result in changes to part of the design. |
| Q1.23 | How will I know if my property will be affected by CPO (Compulsory Purchase Order) |
| A1.23 | As the design progresses through Phase 3 and the landtake necessary for the construction and operation of the preferred transport solution will be identified and those with property within the landtake will be notified. |
| Q1.24 | What do I do if I want to object? |
| A1.24 | Formal objections can only be submitted after the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) and the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) are published. In the interim, please feel free to contact the project office with your concerns as it may be possible to mitigate issues throughout the design process. |
| Q1.25 | What about compensation? |
| A1.25 | Compensation will be paid wherever land or property is directly affected (i.e. land has been purchased). Further details will be explained during consultation with the project team. |
| Q1.26 | How will my personal data be handled? |
| A1.26 | Our full Privacy Statement with regards to the collection and usage of personal data is available on the project website. Personal data provided to the project team is stored securely and in accordance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements. The data will only be used for the purposes of the N24 Cahir to Limerick Junction Project. Data will not be retained for any longer than is necessary. |
| Q1.27 | How do I contact a member of the Project team to discuss the potential impacts on my property? |
| A1.27 | You can book a meeting through the contact us page on this project website with a member of design team, email us on cahirlimerick@midwestroads.ie or phone us on (061) 951 000. |
