Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy for expressing condolences in the House. I suppose when he submitted this Topical Issue, he did not think we would be thinking of tragedies on our roads and indeed more high-profile ones. It is a timely reminder. The Ceann Comhairle has such a strong track record on road safety, it is appropriate we take a moment before discussing this specific issue.

As the Deputy is aware, the Minister is responsible for overall policy and Exchequer funding with regard to the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 and in line with the NDP, the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for TII in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

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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. 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. In addition, €2.9 billion was allocated for the protection and renewal of the existing national road network.

As the greater portion of this funding becomes available in the second half of this decade, this has meant there has been a constraint on the funding available for new projects in 2025. However, approximately €502 million in Exchequer capital funds was provided for national roads through TII to local authorities in 2025. It is worth noting that this year approximately €650,000 was allocated for the construction of new national roads in Meath, with an additional €5.2 million being allocated for the improvement of the existing network.

The allocation for protection and renewal of the existing national road network will fund a range of activities, including road safety improvements, pavement renewal, maintenance of bridges and structures, and measures to ensure the network can withstand the increased number of severe weather events.

The Minister for Transport understands from TII that Meath County Council is considering developing a scheme in Carlanstown. There are a number of potential road safety improvements, mainly relating to vulnerable road user facility provision and continuity through the village. I am open to correction, but it is my understanding, and this is where we need to get to the nub of the issue, and it is welcome that the Deputy has raised this in the House in order to do that, that no feasibility and options report has yet been drafted by the relevant local authority. Once a feasibility report is drafted, Meath County Council can engage with TII regarding the progression of the scheme.

That is what I have in the reply before me. I do not know if that is contrary to what the Deputy said. Perhaps we are trying to find out exactly what needs to happen here. I hope we can achieve something this afternoon to do just that.

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