N24 Business Impact Survey 2026

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Businesses across Waterford, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Limerick and Wexford have delivered a clear verdict on the N24: it is a barrier to how they operate today, and its upgrade is one of the highest-return infrastructure investments available to Government in the region.

County Tipperary Chamber's N24 Business Impact Survey 2026, carried out in August and September with the support of the Chambers of Waterford, Kilkenny, Limerick and Wexford, found that 86% of respondents describe the N24 as a significant barrier to their business today. Congestion through towns (89%) and unreliable, unpredictable journey times (81%) are near-universal complaints, and 85% of businesses lose 15 minutes or more on a typical corridor journey compared with a free-flowing route.

The safety findings are stark: almost half of businesses (48%) report that road-safety incidents or near-misses on the N24 have directly affected their business, vehicles or staff.

The road is already costing businesses money, contracts and staff. In the last three years, 35% of businesses have absorbed higher transport costs, 31% have lost a contract or customer, and 13% have located or relocated elsewhere because the N24 has not been upgraded. Half of businesses say the condition of the road affects their ability to recruit or retain staff, rising to 85% among the region's largest employers.

The case for investment is just as clear. 72% of businesses say an upgraded N24 would make them more likely to invest, expand or create employment in the region, and 89% support the Chambers' campaign for its delivery.