Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Tá am breise ag an Teachta anocht. There is no kite flying on this. This is real money for roads across the country. We announced them and people will see the network of roads. As part of this investment in 2025, just under €48 million is being invested in developing and upgrading this infrastructure through vital strategic projects. The Deputy will be familiar with some of them. These include projects identified for development under the national development plan such as the Tralee northern relief road – I do not think that is a kite anyone is flying - and the Shannon crossing, the Killaloe bypass and the R494 upgrade. Furthermore, €22.2 million is also being provided for smaller-scale road improvements under the specific grant category.

I could go through the list of all the roads but I have published it. It includes €330 million for road pavement strengthening and €75 million for preventative surface stressing. Our budget will be expended this year. I can assure the Deputy of that. We have a very strong pipeline of works under way. In the coming weeks I will announce the national works programme too. It will see significant investment. I am glad to see some significant projects with which the Deputy will be familiar, such as the Adare bypass which has started. Again, that is not a kite; it is happening. We will continue to invest in our roads because I accept there are deficits in areas and we want to try to address them.

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