Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

As I said in my response to Deputy McGrath, I can confirm that approximately €411 million of Exchequer capital funds were provided for national roads through TII to local authorities in 2024. These allocations were announced by the Department of Transport and TII on the 22 February 2024.

The N17 Knock to Collooney scheme has been identified in the national development plan. This section of the N17 covers approximately 55 km in length and has a number of towns and villages on the route, most notably Tobercurry and Charlestown. The project aims to remove traffic from these urban centres, as well as improve safety on the route. TII has been working to progress this scheme through planning, design and construction. I confirm that €900,000 was allocated for the N17 Knock to Collooney scheme in 2024. An emerging preferred transport corridor was announced at the start of 2023, with a period of public consultation taking place following this. Route selection has been finalised, as of 7 March this year, and the design and environmental evaluation phase is under way.

The project team is preparing for studies and surveys which will be carried out to progress this phase. A particular focus is on the delivery of the Tobercurry and Charlestown bypass elements of the scheme. Removing traffic from the centre of these towns will greatly improve the quality of life of local residents, in line with the town centre first policy. It is also in keeping with the principle of compact growth in the programme for Government and is a national strategic outcome in the national planning framework. As with all national roads projects in the NDP, the delivery programme for the project will be kept under review on an ongoing basis. I hope this update is of assistance to the Deputy.

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