Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 January 2022
160. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which he hopes to approve vital roadbuilding projects in order to improve connectivity and meet the demands of the expanding economy at local and national level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2856/22]
View answerExchequer funding under the National Development Plan 2021-2030 (NDP) will facilitate continued protection and renewal of our national roads infrastructure, including motorways, and will also allow for the development of a number of new roads projects in line with Government policy. Approximately €5.1 billion of exchequer funds are earmarked for new national road projects across the lifetime of the NDP. This funding will, among various objectives, contribute to the achievement of two key National Strategic Outcomes under the National Planning Framework - enhanced regional accessibility as well as compact growth. The greater part of this funding will become available in the latter half of the Plan; €4 billion will come on stream in the second half of the decade, with €1.1 billion earmarked for the period 2021 - 2025.
Taking this funding profile into account, it is necessary to prioritise the available funding in order to achieve the key outcomes of the NDP as it applies to the development of the national roads network. To this end, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) prioritised funding allocations for 2022 to achieve the following outcomes:
1. Maintenance of existing national road assets, helping to maintain them to a safe and robust standard;
2. Progression of projects currently under construction and those close to construction, such as the N5 Westport to Turlough project and the Dunkettle Interchange upgrade;
3. Progression of the three major projects pre-Decision Gate 2 in the Public Spending Code (PSC), namely the N6 Galway Ring Road, N21/N69 Foynes to Limerick and M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy projects;
4. For projects further back in the development pipeline, prioritise any remaining funds for projects that provide for local bypasses/"'Town Centre First"/Compact Growth.
This builds on the large-scale investment in national roads that has taken place over the last 20 years, which has greatly improved regional connectivity.
As regards regional and local roads, the original NDP identified 12 strategic road improvement schemes for development, subject to necessary approvals. To date 6 of these schemes have been completed and following approval last year the construction of 3 of the larger schemes is underway, i.e. the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road, the Athy Southern Distributor Road and the Shannon Crossing, Killaloe Bypass and R494 Upgrade scheme. Planning and design work is continuing on the remaining schemes.
