Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, for his attendance and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for her indulgence. I thank also the staff of the Houses for working so late and facilitating the debate. I hope the Minister of State will be able to allay the conclusion many have come to, namely, that the Government has a disgraceful attitude to regional transport links, not least as they pertain to the Border region.

County Monaghan has incredibly limited public transport availability. There is no rail network in the region and bus services are extremely restricted. As such, our local economy requires a fit-for-purpose road network. The N2, alongside the A5, has been considered in several Government documents and plans to be a crucial artery and economic driver for both the central-Border and north-western regions. The road has been part of several peace process negotiations. The Irish and British Governments and political parties have all agreed on the principle this road network is essential for the delivery of a peace dividend to regions and communities that were significantly impacted by partition and conflict over the course of the past century. To much fanfare from Government party representatives, the project was highlighted as priority infrastructure in the so-called national development plan.

Unilaterally, however, the funding for the next phase of the section from Clontibret to the Border was withdrawn in 2022. Representatives of Transport Infrastructure Ireland confirmed to me at a meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts that that withdrawal would have to be revisited if there were a direction from the Government. Indeed, other road projects farther south that were also initially excluded in the 2022 programme were subsequently allocated the necessary funding to proceed to the next stage. It seems, however, that nobody in the Government was willing to make a similar case for the N2. This year again, fanfare from Government representatives told us the scheme from Clontibret to the Border had been allocated funding, but we soon learned the allocation towards this section is dependent on EU matched funding.

I am unaware of any other national road funding being so dependent on outside aid. It appears the Government representatives from our region have been found wanting again as the Department of Transport plays political games with our region. The Ardee to Castleblaney section of the road has now also been effectively stalled. The €600 million allocation for this year will only cover previous costs and will not allow the project to proceed to the next stage. The development of the N2 and of the A5 in the North needs to proceed as a matter of urgency. Without it, County Monaghan and the wider region will not be able to reach its economic potential. It is entirely unfair that landowners' land is effectively frozen in perpetuity while progress on the road is painstakingly slow due to Government decisions. There are serious traffic concerns arising from the ongoing foot-dragging and stalling. I put on the record, my strong commendation of the members of Monaghan County Council, who are united in calling for the funding allocation for the N2 to be revisited. We also need political unity from local and Oireachtas representatives in this region. Primarily, we need Government to change the disgraceful attitude that has been displayed towards this region and to deliver the necessary funding to allow these two schemes on this critical piece of infrastructure for the region to proceed to the next stages.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to the national roads programme, NRP. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015, and in line with the national development plan, NDP, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TIl, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TIl ultimately delivers the national roads programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework, NPF, and the NDP.

Four projects on the N2 have been identified in the national development plan, which are really important for regional connectivity as the Deputy has outlined, namely, the N2 Clontibret to the Border, N2 Ardee to Castleblaney, N2 Slane bypass and N2 Rath roundabout to Kilmoon Cross projects. TIl is working to progress these schemes through planning, design and construction. Approximately €491 million of Exchequer capital funding has been provided for national roads through TII to local authorities in 2023.

These allocations were announced by the Department of Transport and TII on 16 February 2023. In 2023, funding for new projects on the N2 comprises the Clontibret to the Border project, which has been allocated €2.5 million that is contingent on a successful application for funding under the connecting Europe framework. Moreover, the N2 Ardee to Castleblaney project has received €600,000, the N2 Slane bypass has received €350,000 and the N2 Rath roundabout to Kilmoon Cross project has received €750,000.

The Government has earmarked €5.1 billion for capital spending on new national roads projects from 2021 to 2030 as part of the NDP. This funding will enable improved regional accessibility across the country, as well as compact growth which are key national strategic outcomes. The funding will provide for the development of numerous national road projects, including the completion of projects which are already at construction stage and those close to it, as well as the development of a number of others. As the greater portion of this funding is available as we progress through the decade, this means there may be constraints in the available funding in particular years. However, most national road projects for the NDP will continue to be progressed in 2023, including the N2.

A major priority in the national development plan, in line with the Department's investment, is to ensure we have quality and safety on the road network. The national development plan receives an Exchequer allocation of approximately €2.9 billion for the protection and renewal of existing roads over the ten-year period to 2030 allocated evenly across the decade. I acknowledge what the Deputy has set out and I look forward to engaging on the issue. I am aware that Senator Gallagher and others, including the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, also want to see progress on these projects. Many members of Monaghan County Council have articulated the necessity to see continued progress on many of the projects related to the N2. I will be engaging with them in my role within Government and I will reflect what the Deputy has set out today. The Government is committed to regional connectivity and developing this infrastructure, but doing so within the envelope.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The problem is that funding was taken out of the budget and taken away from projects that are included in the national development plan and allocated to projects that are not mentioned at all in that plan. We need to have clarity in this regard. The Minister's answer suggests this is all TII decision making. However, TII told us quite clearly and has stated to a number of Dáil committees that it will be directed by the Government. However, the Minister of State should not take my word, or even the word of the elected representatives for it. We had a very constructive meeting with the officials from Monaghan County Council, who have no political axe to grind. All they want to see is the development of our county. The Minister mentioned the funding allocation for the Ardee to Castleblaney road scheme. The council officials have told us categorically that the €600,000 funding received in 2023 is to meet current project commitments. Funding is not sufficient to allow design work to continue. Consultant engineers have been asked to stop work. Regarding the implications of that, they noted the road already has a higher than average collision history and that as traffic volumes continue to grow, collision frequency and severity is likely to increase. They noted failure to progress the project may impact the long-term growth and development of the north-west region. Moreover, extended delays will impact on land and property owners and restrict development along the corridors. Both these schemes have effectively been stalled. The Minister of State has spoken about progressing these roads. However, over the past two years there has been regression. We have been told by the experts in Monaghan County Council that if an extended delay is experienced, the cost will increase and surveys, investigations and design work will need to be repeated at further additional cost. This has already happened with the Clontibret to the Border road scheme. The original road was proposed in the 1990s. It was suspended in the mid-2000s and recommenced in 2008. It was suspended again in 2012 and since 2017, there has been a 400 m wide corridor that effectively has been sterilised. We need an absolute commitment from the Minister of State that he will ensure that the disgraceful attitude that has been shown towards these schemes is reversed and that we will see progress on these roads this year.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The roads outlined in the national development plan are an absolute priority. I look forward to engaging with the officials from Monaghan County Council and with the local councillors. I accept the Deputy's bona fides in trying to advance this on behalf of his community for reasons of economic development. The road safety matters he has outlined are also very important to the people of Monaghan and the people who transit through the county as well. As I have said, the allocations have been made for 2023. As part of the ongoing national development plan it is important that we see progress across the projects that are outlined in the plan. I reiterate I will be engaging with officials in Monaghan County Council and the elected public representatives on this issue and will reflect the feedback the Deputy has given to the House as part of the debate relating to this matter.