Councillors urge action on roads, funding and Thurles bypass in county infrastructure debate

At a recent Tipperary County Council meeting, Councillors Sean Ryan and Jim Ryan issued strong appeals for greater clarity, funding, and urgency on critical infrastructure issues affecting communities across the county, with particular emphasis on rural roads, the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS), and the long-promised Thurles bypass.

Local Improvement Scheme and Rural Roads

Cllr Sean Ryan welcomed the reopening of the Community Involvement Scheme (CIS) but sought immediate clarification on the timeline and criteria for the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS), which has not yet reopened. “We all want to know when the LIS scheme will reopen and what the criteria will be,” he said.

“Will there be a points system that prioritises existing applicants, or will new applicants leapfrog them? We need transparency.”
He noted that over €1 million had been allocated for LIS but requested a district-level breakdown of how the funding would be distributed.“

It’s a very popular scheme. We’re constantly getting calls about it from constituents. People deserve clarity.”
Cllr Jim Ryan echoed these concerns, turning his focus to the state of roads in Thurles, particularly the N62, where ongoing deterioration is posing serious risks to pedestrians and motorists.

READ NEXT: Tipperary arts centre to host production of children's classic musical

“It’s an absolute disgrace the way the N62 has been left. It’s full of potholes, there’s even a dangerous lip on the pedestrian crossing. I know people who have tripped there. We cannot wait for TII to act, we need a temporary fix now before someone is seriously injured,” he warned.

He said the condition of the road had led to claims related to both personal injury and vehicle damage, and called for immediate surface works, not just patching, to avoid further risk.

Thurles Bypass and National Development Plan

Both councillors expressed urgency about ensuring the Thurles bypass is included in the upcoming revision of the National Development Plan (NDP). Cllr Sean Ryan questioned whether the Council had submitted a detailed proposal to include the bypass in the updated plan, pointing out that it had been omitted from the original Project Ireland 2040 framework.

“This is our big chance. If we don’t get it included now, it may be impossible to secure funding for it before 2040.”
Cllr Jim Ryan praised the submission that had been made, describing it as “excellent,” and commended the Council’s executive for its work.

“As someone who has represented Thurles for 26 years, I can tell you this is the single biggest issue facing the town. If it’s not included now, we could be waiting another generation. At this stage, we need our three TDs and the Minister for Roads to ensure it’s prioritised.”

The councillors noted that Thurles’ continued growth, along with increasing through-traffic, makes the bypass an essential piece of infrastructure not just for economic development but for public safety, environmental sustainability, and quality of life. They called for unified political pressure at national level to ensure it becomes a funded and scheduled project.

Climate Events and Roads Funding

Cllr Sean Ryan also voiced frustration over the lack of additional funding to repair roads damaged by recent storms and snowfalls.

“We’ve had serious weather events, storms, snow, flooding, but no extra money. We’re expected to use our already stretched local budgets to fix roads damaged by climate events. That’s not sustainable. A strong case needs to be made to the Minister for funding support.”

He criticised what he described as a “disjointed” approach to climate response funding, with flooding often receiving more support than storm-related damage.

“It’s not fair. Whether it’s snow, wind, or rain, our roads are being battered, and without central assistance, we can’t keep up.”

Traffic Calming and Pedestrian Safety

Cllr Jim Ryan raised concerns about the council’s slow response to traffic calming requests, particularly the installation of speed ramps in residential areas.

“We all get approached by residents about high-speed traffic in housing estates, but there seems to be real reluctance from the Council to act. I can’t remember the last time speed ramps were installed in Thurles.”

He cited a particularly worrying case on the R660, where a child was recently knocked down.

“Thankfully she’s recovering, but we’ve been applying for funding there for three years without success. It's within the speed limit zone, between the village and key community amenities. How much longer do we have to wait?”

Both councillors stressed that infrastructure decisions must reflect the lived realities of local communities, particularly in regional towns like Thurles, which are under increasing pressure from traffic volumes and underinvestment. Without faster response times, interim safety measures, and clear communication from transport bodies and national departments, they warned, public confidence in planning processes will continue to erode.