Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this important issue. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport, who has responsibility for the overall policy and Exchequer funding for the national roads programme, which includes the motorway network along with national primary and secondary roads.

As the Senator may be aware, once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015, and in line with the national development plan, NDP, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII ultimately delivers the national roads programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and the NDP. In the new NDP, which was launched in October 2021, approximately €5.1 billion is earmarked for new national road projects up to 2030. This funding will enable improved regional accessibility across the country, as well as compact growth in our towns and villages, 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.This year, approximately €615 million of that €5.1 billion of Exchequer capital funding has been provided for national road projects through TII to local authorities. These allocations were announced on 17 December 2021 and details are available on the website. Funding for regional and local roads was announced earlier today.

I agree wholeheartedly with what Senator Boyhan said regarding the importance of the road projects he outlined. I thank him for raising this issue on behalf of councillors in several counties. My colleagues, Senators Paul Daly and Carrigy and Deputy Flaherty have also raised this issue, as I have, with the Minister for Transport. When the roads projects office is undertaking its planning, it is important for it to have certainty regarding when these projects can progress.

As I said, €5.1 billion is earmarked in this regard up to 2030. We need greater certainty, however, concerning when these roads projects, as outlined by Senator Boyhan, will be progressed. I know the roads from Mullingar to Longford and Tullamore to Kilbeggan especially well. In some cases, these projects only require a small amount of money to progress to the next stage. As the Senator rightly said, the landowners on the routes also need certainty and clarification. I have been consulting with the Minister for Transport in this regard. He has assured me that he has brought my concerns to the attention of TII. I assure the Senator that on foot of his strong contribution on behalf of the councillors in the respective counties that I will now go back to the Minister to ask him to engage with TII to bring certainty and clarity in respect of the road projects highlighted in the Senator's Commencement matter.