Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Transport apologises that he is not here this morning. He has responsibility for the overall policy and Exchequer funding for the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with 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 TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII ultimately delivers the national roads programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and the NDP. The Government has earmarked €5.1 billion for capital spending on new national roads projects from 2021 to 2030 as part of the NDP. The funding will enable improved regional access 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 becomes available in the second half of the decade, there is a constraint on the funding available for projects in 2023 and 2024. No one wants to hear that sort of news. That is obviously why I am here. However, approximately €491 million of Exchequer capital funds were provided for national roads through TII to local authorities in 2023. Allocations for 2024 will be announced in the very near future. Since 2020, approximately €320 million in Exchequer capital funding has been allocated for the national road network in Cork county and city. That is €320 million in recent years. This has included funding for a number of new national roads projects in the Cork North-Central and Cork East areas. The N72 and N73 Mallow relief road project is included among a number of major national road schemes that were identified in the NDP for planning, design and construction. The scheme consists of a bypass of the town of Mallow. It would reduce congestion in the town, improve air quality and allow for public realm improvements. It would also deliver improved safety in the town. The route options selection phase for the project is now complete, with detailed planning and design to follow. The development of the N/M20 project between Cork and Limerick is ongoing with a business case expected next year. This project would close a gap in the road network and provides increased opportunities for developing the Atlantic economic corridor. It would also benefit towns in north Cork, including Charleville, Buttevant and Mallow. The Cork city northern transport project would provide improved regional access and connectivity around Cork city, enhancing the mobility of people and goods throughout the urban area of Cork city. The project would ensure other multimodal transport infrastructure would continue to function effectively in the long term, hence protecting the public investment that has taken place and enabling the city to transition successfully to more sustainable transport modes. Is that the northern distributor road the Deputy talked about?

See this speech in context