Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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103. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if urgent pavement works will be carried out on the N22, in particular the section east of Macroom to Ballincollig; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34077/25]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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There is a need to upgrade the surface of the N22 between Macroom and Ballincollig. TII did not approve funding to the council for the upgrade earlier this year. What options are now available to the council to improve this surface and make the road safer?

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Moynihan. The Government earmarked about €2.9 billion for the protection and renewal of the national road network as part of the National Development Plan 2021 to 2030. As the Deputy knows, the NDP is under review. That includes funding to renew pavement on the new network. In addition, €5.1 billion was earmarked for investment in new national roads projects. While the greater portion of the funding becomes available in the second half of the decade, I can confirm that approximately €600 million of Exchequer capital funds was provided to local authorities through TII for national roads in 2025. Of this, €74 million was allocated to Cork city and county councils.

As part of the current NDP, the N22 road between Cork and Kerry has seen significant development in recent years, not least with the completion of the Baile Bhuirne to Macroom project. In conjunction with the N22 Farranfore to Killarney project, which is being developed, this will deliver greatly improved connectivity between Cork and Kerry. In regard to the section between Macroom and Ballincollig, while it has not been possible so far to allocate funding for pavement works this year, funding has been provided for road safety schemes at Castlemore and Kilcondy. In addition, funding has been provided for a fixed safety camera pilot on the route.

With regard to future investment, the programme for Government commits to increasing funding for protection and renewal. This should allow the pace of road pavement renewal to be stepped up, including the section east of Macroom to Ballincollig. What I am basically saying is that I am aware of the really poor state of this section of road. The Deputy has mentioned it and the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, mentioned it to me again this evening.

I am glad Deputy Moynihan asked this question. We need to be more active with our agencies in making sure, as I said to a previous Deputy, that the feedback from public representatives on behalf of their constituents is actually listened to. This section of road needs to be attended to. We will have an increased roads programme for next year and we will try to secure additional funding to make sure this section of road is attended to.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Some 32,000 vehicles travel on this section of road every day. There is a big flow of traffic coming from west Cork. It is a key artery into the city for many people. Road surface is a major aspect of road safety. Traffic travelling at 100 km/h hitting large holes is just dangerous. Drivers trying to avoid these holes by swerving around them present a danger too. Did the council make a specific application for funding for this work this year? Across the country, projects come under pressure during the year. There may well also be other projects that are not able to proceed to construction. Is there an opportunity to reallocate funding towards a priority project like the N22?

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I know the volume of traffic on the N22 is high and increasing. The paving is poor. The Deputy mentioned potholes. Following his intervention through this parliamentary question, I will make direct contact to see what remedial works can be done in the interim. I cannot say if funding will be reallocated later this year. We have just recently allocated the 2025 funding but I will ask. Good work is being done on other parts of the N22 but I want to make sure this section is not forgotten about. I will contact TII in this regard, particularly to see what can be done with the local authority in the interim this year. The fixed camera is working to reduce speed in that area. I do not know if a specific submission was received from the local authority, but I will find out for him and take this matter up with TII. I will keep him informed of the feedback from that meeting.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister's intervention is hugely appreciated. This is a vital section of road. The Minister mentioned safety works being approved in Castlemore and Kilcondy. Those junctions are vital, as are so many others along the road, but at those junctions in particular, we have, unfortunately, seen many major accidents and tragic loss of life. The council is moving ahead with those works. This year's allocation will not be enough to build any of it but it will move the project towards construction.

Can those much-needed safety works be prioritised for funding to make that road safer in any future allocation?

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy may take from the fact that we have done a lot of the preparatory work on design and preparation for the schemes in Castlemore and Kilcondy that we want to see them proceed to the next stage. That will be the logical step going forward into 2026. We will make sure that happens. The Ministers of State, Deputies Canney and Buttimer, and I have increased our roads funding this year by about €92 million. We received that draft funding package quite late because the Government had only come in, yet we were able to effect an increase. We will have a more significant increase in our roads programme next year. Government colleagues' interventions, including the Deputy's, regarding what is important in their own areas will be taken in the round because they are the people elected by their constituents. I will reference the particular section east of Macroom to Ballincollig with TII and I will revert to the Deputy.