Pippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for his question. He is right that I am familiar with this stretch of road. As he is aware, the Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in regard to the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with 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, which is the national planning framework, and the NDP.

Under the new NDP launched in October 2021, approximately €5.1 billion is earmarked for new national roads projects to 2030. This funding will enable improved regional accessibility across the country, as well as compact growth, both of which are key national strategic outcomes. The funding will provide for the development of numerous national roads projects, including the completion of those already at construction stage and those close to it, as well as the development of a number of others. Exchequer funding under the new NDP will also facilitate continued protection and renewal of our national roads infrastructure, including motorways, in line with Government policy.

A priority in the NDP, in line with the Department's typical investment hierarchy, is to maintain the quality and safety of the existing national road network, which includes the N5. This will serve to safeguard the significant investment that has taken place in our national roads over recent decades. The NDP foresees an Exchequer allocation of approximately €2.9 billion for the protection and renewal of existing national roads over the ten-year period to 2030, allocated fairly evenly across the decade.

The N5 is a national primary road connecting Longford town with Westport. The N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramogue project consists of the construction of 33 km of new single-carriageway road between the Ballaghaderreen bypass and Scramogue, bypassing Frenchpark, Tulsk and Strokestown. When completed, the project will reduce journey times, improve safety and deliver an improved urban environment in towns and villages along the route. As the Senator outlined, construction on the project was due to start earlier this year. However, works were suspended on 11 March due to the contractor, Roadbridge, entering receivership. Roscommon County Council is currently engaged in the process of procuring the services of a new contractor to progress the construction of the project. The tender process is under way and expressions of interest have been received. Subject to the successful outcome of a tender process, it is intended that the award of the main contract will happen in the first quarter of 2023. It is currently anticipated that the construction of the main scheme will take three years.

In 2022, a pavement improvement scheme will be progressed on the existing N5 road between Moneylea and Carrowntoosan, with works expected to commence by early July. In addition, a feasibility and options report has been received for a safety scheme at the junction of the N5 and R361 in Frenchpark. This will proceed to the next phase and TIl will provide the necessary funding. Active travel improvements for towns and villages along this route are also being investigated.