Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

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.

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