Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Minister for Transport has asked me to take it on his behalf. The Minister has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in respect of the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, under the Road Acts and in line with the national development plan, NDP, the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for TII in conjunction with the local authorities concerned, in this case Laois County Council. TII ultimately delivers the national roads programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and, most importantly, the NDP.

The Government has earmarked €5.1 billion for capital spending on new national road projects from 2021 to 2030. That is all under the NDP. This funding will enable improved regional accessibility across the country and 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 that are already at construction stage or close to construction stage, as well as the development of a number of other projects.

Since the greater portion of this funding will only become available in the second half of the decade, there is a constraint on the funding available for new projects this year. However, approximately €502 million of Exchequer capital funds have been provided for national roads through TII to local authorities so far this year.

Regarding the Mountmellick relief road, Laois County Council has completed a preliminary appraisal of bypass options. An allocation contribution was provided to Laois County Council in 2020 to carry out a strategic assessment report. However, a proposed bypass of Mountmellick is not included among the projects identified for development during the period of the national development plan. Therefore, advancement of the proposed scheme cannot be accommodated in the national roads programme at present. However, a review of the NDP is being undertaken and the outcome of this review will inform TII on the schemes to be progressed over the coming years, pending the availability of sufficient funding.

It is not included in the NDP at the moment. That is the constraint, but the NDP is up for review. I urge the Deputy and the organisations and residents associations he is working with in Mountmellick to take this opportunity to engage.

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