Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Murphy can rest assured that I will bring the points he articulated clearly here about the importance of this road to the Minister. Approximately €616 million of Exchequer capital funds have been provided to TII for national roads in 2022. In line with the NDP and Government policy, TII is allocating national roads funding to local authorities for 2022 in a manner which seeks to achieve the following outcomes: protection and renewal of the existing national road network; progress major projects in or near construction; progress major projects which are pre-construction but well advanced in the development pipeline; and prioritise any remaining funds for major projects which provide for local bypasses and compact growth in Ireland's towns and villages.

It is necessary to prioritise projects for funding in a manner which seeks to achieve key outcomes in line with the NDP and NPF. As a result of this, while a large majority of the projects were issued a funding allocation in 2022, TII was unable to provide an allocation for a small number of projects. The delivery programme for these projects will be kept under review for next year and considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available to TII. Although TII was not in a position to provide funding to progress the overall scheme, in 2022 funding of €300,000 was provided under TII's minor improvements programme to progress improvements on the section of the route. That addresses some of the concerns the Senator raised, but I take his point about the need for progression of the overall project as soon as possible and will refer it back to the Minister.