Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach. The N2 Ardee to Castleblayney road has become infamous for its high collision rate. Sections of the road have been classified as having twice the expected collision rate and the death toll, unfortunately, is alarming. There have been 17 fatal collisions in the last ten years and 24 within the past 18 years. This has left so many families and lives broken, so much grief and a lifetime of heartache. As traffic volumes continue to grow, collision frequency and severity is also likely to increase. The Minister of State can, therefore, understand why the local community finds it inexplicable that work has stopped on plans to make this road safer for everyone, not just the locals who use it but, indeed, all those who pass on this road on their way North or South as the case may be.

A recent European directive on road infrastructure safety management states that member states shall ensure that road sections with a ranking of high accident concentration, such as the N2, are targeted and given high-priority funding for remedial treatment. An upgrade of the N2 Castleblayney Road from Castleblayney to Ardee four-lane dual carriageway is needed. The length is approximately 32 km and it is proposed to have a cycle track and footpath there as well. As the Minister of State knows, dual carriageways are three times safer than single carriageways.

Apart from improving road safety, these measures would also enhance key North-South and regional connectivity, improve road safety, as I said earlier, and also provide certainty for journey times for cross-Border traffic. These particular improvement works are listed in the National Development Plan 2018-2027 and also 2021-2030 for progression through pre-appraisal and early planning.

The design process began on this road back in 2018 and the preferred route was published in February of 2021. Initial design maps have been published and land and property owner meetings have taken place with the local authority. There have been significant impacts on people's properties with up to seven people potentially losing their family homes. Many others had significant land taken and commercial buildings have also been taken. I have to say, however, that from feedback I have received from local authority representatives - the Minister of State met with Monaghan County Council and I thank him again for coming to that meeting - the co-operation from the local community has been second to none. I salute them for that.

Expenditure to date on this road has been somewhere in the region of approximately €5.5 million. The current phase has been going well; so far, so good. However, the €600,000 we received in 2023 was for works already completed. Therefore, a request was made through the Minister, Deputy Ryan's, Department for an additional €900,000 so that the planning process and design process could be completed. Unfortunately, that was not forthcoming this year and as a result, the consultants that were hired had to be stood down. So far, we are in limbo with regard to this particular road.

This comes at a time when roads deaths, rightly so, are in the headlines for all the wrong reasons with the numbers increasing. Surely, if we are serious about road safety, the fact that this road is not being progressed through planning is unforgivable. There is no other way of putting that. We are talking about a serious issue that, quite frankly, is a matter of life or death. If the Department is serious about cutting down on road deaths, this road has to be progressed as a matter of urgency. I look forward to the Minister of State's response.