Minister for Transport Shane Ross and a senior official from Transport Infastructure Ireland (TII) are due to meet Wicklow TDs next week to discuss lack of investment to a N81 road improvement scheme.
The meeting comes after numerous requests since January when it was revealed that the N81 Tallaght to Hollywood Cross road improvement scheme would be excluded from the Government’s Capital Investment Plan.
Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady, who helped collect signatures demanding investment to the project, is eager to meet with officials: “The Minister and TII need to hear how the decision not to fund the long overdue N81 upgrade project will impact on the economic and social development of West Wicklow.”
John Brady TD and Sinn Féin rep Aidan Kinsella in Blessington collect signatures for a petition demanding funding for the N81
Health Minister Simon Harris TD previously criticised the TII’s decision to suspend works to the N81 route: “I understand that TII has competing priorities however it is vital that our main roads in Wicklow are not left behind.
“The N81 road is in a very poor state and it is priority issue in the Blessington area. There are also plans to increase housing in this area and therefore it is absolutely crucial that we have proper infrastructure to support any development. The road in its current state is not suitable for existing traffic volumes therefore any additional developments would only add to the growing problem.”
All five of Wicklow’s TDS are invited to the meeting, who will collectively “be putting forward the strongest possible argument to have the N81 reinstated in the Governments Capital Investment Plan and ensure priority is given to fund the upgrade project,” according to TD Brady.
A delegation from the West Wicklow community will also attend the meeting to present a petition containing several thousand signatures, demanding that the project commences.
