Dáil debates
Thursday, 9 November 2023
Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate
Road Network
2:40 pm
Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I seek the reinstatement of the new section of the N52 between the N4 interchange at Kilbeggan and the Tullamore bypass. The Kilbeggan to Kinnegad section of the east–west or Dublin–Galway connection was opened in 2005 and the Tullamore bypass was opened in 2009. The next stage of that development was to link the two to assist with regional development. Having completed the east–west connection, the aim was to work on the north–south one between the likes of Mullingar, Tullamore and Portlaoise and across to Roscrea. An added benefit was to be the alleviation of a very dangerous junction at Durrow, where the national school, local church and graveyard are located. At this very dangerous junction, many parents, grandchildren, staff and children take their lives into their hands daily in the mornings and afternoons. Indeed, a recent report published by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, part of which was published in the Irish Independent on 5 October, noted that many projects had been taken off the table, thus increasing the potential for death and injury. The route was selected in 2009 and a process was entered into at that juncture, but it was withdrawn around 2012. It was a hard pill to swallow but an understandable one considering the state of the public finances at the time. We were glad to have the process reinstated and entered into again after 2016, but we were quite disappointed in latter years, especially in 2022, when, on foot of the local authority having produced a route options report and a preferred route report, there was no subsequent funding. At this juncture, the priority is one of health and safety, with the added benefit of economic prosperity and assistance to the region thereafter. For these reasons alone, I implore the Minister for Transport, when working with TII to agree next year's plan, to reinstate the road.
When the Government was formed, we agreed to have a 2:1 split between public transport and road projects. That was a welcome initiative because many Governments had talked about it without delivering in regard to the progress that needed to be made on public transport infrastructure. However, I did not envisage that this would imply that any Minister taking office would have the authority to disregard the processes and procedures and the great expense incurred by the State in arriving at route options and selecting routes. My imploring of the Minister is from a health and safety perspective. Those who have had great patience over the past 12 or 14 years should be given some sort of solace by way of the Minister committing the necessary funding sought by Offaly County Council to get us back on track.It could even be the year after next before the project could commence, but I am referring to the phases required to confirm the selected route and allow the land to be purchased to proceed in the vein described.
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy. As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding for the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements are put in place with TII, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015, and in line with the national development plan, NDP, the planning, design, development and upgrading of individual national roads comprise a matter for TII in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TIl ultimately delivers the national roads programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework, and the NDP.
In the current NDP, which was launched in October 2021, approximately €5.1 billion is earmarked for new national road projects through to 2030. This funding will enable improved regional accessibility across the country, as well as compact growth, which are key national strategic outcomes under the national planning framework. The funding will provide for the development of numerous national road projects, including the completion of projects already at construction stage and those close to it, as well as the development of a number of others. The N52 Tullamore to Kilbeggan project is included in the list of projects contained in the NDP.
The fact that the greater portion of the NDP funding for road projects becomes available in the second half of the decade means there was a constraint on the funding available for new projects in 2022 and 2023. However, most national roads projects in the NDP are being progressed. Projects such as the N52 from Kilbeggan to Tullamore, which did not have the required funding to be progressed, remain part of the NDP and will be considered for funding in future years. Allocations for projects in 2024 are being finalised and will be announced in the near future.
The route option selection phase was the subject of public consultation in September 2021, when the preferred route corridor was announced. Some work has been taking place on the finalisation of the route option selection phase. The project remains part of the NDP. The delivery programme for this project will be kept under review for funding in 2024 and future years and will be considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available to TII.
I absolutely agree with the Deputy that the issue of road safety has to be paramount in everything we do in transport. There has been a shocking increase in fatalities in the past two years and we need a variety of measures to address that. The reality of our funding programme is that not all the projects in planning or development, valued at some €100 billion, will be built in the next five to ten years. Bearing in mind these circumstances, I had a meeting with the board of TII some two weeks ago and made the point that we may have to consider immediate interim measures whereby, if there are particularly difficult junctions or sections of road, we can take remedial action to put road safety centre stage. It is something that TII's board and management are going to have to progress.
There are other ways in which we can improve road safety, which is critical. The 2:1 ratio exists for a practical purpose, which is to provide some of the alternative transport solutions, particularly rural public transport. To my mind, the Government is providing the latter. Every week, we introduce a new or enhanced public transport system, the key providers being the Local Link service and Bus Éireann. This, combined with the halving of public transport fares, is proving to be a great success, particularly among younger people. Along with treating, managing and investing in our roads, this is the best way forward to tackle road safety, save lives and, as the Deputy mentioned, improve economic development in every region of the country.
2:50 pm
Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for being here and for his response and the detail contained within it. I acknowledge the commitment made that despite the lack of funding or progress on this project in 2022 and 2023, it will be considered in the context of the forthcoming allocations for 2024. I again note the role to be played by TII. I note the project's inclusion in the national development plan. I know that it was always going to be in the second part of this decade. I note the commitment within the national development plan to national routes and the funding specifically designated for national routes within the national development plan funding.
I reiterate, however, that this has gone through the preferred route selection stage twice. It is my contention that if it is not funded in next year's allocation, we will be back to the drawing board for the third time. The latter is a cost the State does not need to incur, and that should be taken into consideration. However, nothing trumps the issue of health and safety. TII specifically mentioned this route, this junction and this road in both its deliberations and its report. I contend that it will be the issue that will determine that, not only from a cost perspective but also, and in particular, from a health and safety point of view, it has to be included in next year's allocation. It is not as if next year would involve the funding to construct the road in its entirely; of course not. It will just move on to the next phase and construction might not actually commence until 2025 or 2026. That would be in line with the commitment that was made in the national development plan. However, in order for that to be the case and in order for us not to have to go back to the drawing board and take away another three or four years, it is an imperative that is included in next year's allocation.
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I agree with the Deputy that transport safety is the first imperative. As I said, in an environment where we have €100 billion of proposed projects and only €35 billion available, we need to have other interim solutions to address particular risky points or black spots and implement specific design measures at junctions that are particularly difficult. That is what I have argued for TII to do. In addition, on non-national and urban roads, we need to get local authorities to implement the lower speed limits the Government has agreed with real promptness next year. These will be another factor in helping to reduce the number of fatalities and the impact of road accidents.
There is a further issue with prioritisation, and I have been upfront about this. Given that we have so many different projects, the advancement of bypasses and road investment which takes through-traffic out of towns is a real imperative. Let us consider really thriving towns such as Portlaoise, Portarlington, Tullamore and Birr. I could go across every county or constituency represented in this House. There is a clear indication that the improved town centre environment provided by taking out through-traffic is the best mechanism to improve safety but also to improve economic development in the county in question. I have a list as long as my arm of various such projects that are ready to go or that are at various stages of development. For the development of rural areas, the development of towns outside our cities needs to be the counterforce. This is really possible now with remote working and digital hubs combined with rural bus services. That is the real opportunity and that should also be prioritised within our investment programme.
Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I should have mentioned that this would also advance the project relating to the high cross at Durrow Abbey and the commitment made by the Office of Public Works to advance that offering as an attraction. However, it cannot be progressed while the existing road infrastructure is in place. It is also awaiting progress on this matter. That should also be part of the consideration of the State's commitment to the facility.
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I accept that valid point.