Senator John Dardis (PD) has been criticised in Waterford for saying that developing a motorway to replace the existing road from the city to Dublin would be a "waste of taxpayers' money".
Speaking during a Seanad debate on transport, Senator Dardis said that a new Waterford-Dublin motorway could cost €1 billion. "A motorway is not justified for a road as lightly trafficked as that. If it was, then virtually every national route in the country would have to be upgraded to motorway."
The president of Waterford Chamber of Commerce, Mr Bobby O'Keeffe, commented: "In order to develop as a gateway city, Waterford requires better access to the capital . . . We have received assurances from the NRA and confirmation from the Government that the Dublin to Waterford motorway is still a part of the National Development Plan. While we realise delays are inevitable, we have received assurances about the project."