Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. Thank you for your welcome. I thank Senator Duffy. As Minister of State, it is great to be here in Seanad Éireann, my second home, and thank you for the welcome.

I am taking the Commencement matter for Senator Duffy on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. I thank the Senator for raising the important matter of the upgrades of the N26 and N58 in Mayo. In total, approximately €411 million of Exchequer capital funding was provided for national roads through Transport Infrastructure Ireland to local authorities in 2024. That included approximately €23 million for national roads in Mayo. National road allocations for 2025 will be announced in the coming months.

I confirm that the N26 Foxford to Mount Falcon project received approval to progress the scheme to route option selection in July 2023. Following on from this, Mayo County Council prepared and tendered a brief for the provision of technical adviser services. The technical advisers were appointed in February 2024. A virtual public consultation was held between 13 November and 2 December 2024 to aid in the development of options. Work is continuing on the selection of assessment of potential options with an anticipated selection of a preferred route in late 2025. I agree with Senator Duffy regarding the N26 being the gateway to the north west. The Senator makes a good point on the importance of that route, the N26. It is important that we upgrade it to national standard and I thank the Senator for raising that matter.

The N58 Foxford transport project received scope and strategic assessment approval in March 2024. Following on from this, Mayo County Council prepared and tendered a brief for the provision of technical adviser services to carry out phases 1 to 4 of the TII project management guidelines. Tenders were returned in late 2024. Subject to the available funding, it is hoped to award the technical adviser contract and proceed with a feasibility study.

The current national framework for road safety is set out in the Government’s fifth Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030. In 2024, 18 people died on our roads in County Mayo. That is 18 too many, and an increase of seven on 2023. This year, to date, 24 people have died on our roads nationally. Two of these deaths have occurred in County Mayo. Every fatality is one too many, as I have said, which has an effect on families and communities.

The Senator raised the issue of connectivity and the meeting in Ballina last night and it is important we get that balance right.

As Members will be aware, a reduction in the speed limit for local, regional and rural roads came into effect on 7 February, reducing the default speed limits from 80 km/h to 60 km/h. TII and An Garda Síochána agreed the new locations for the roll-out of average speed camera zones will commence. One of these locations is on the N5 in Swinford, County Mayo. In addition, one new static safety camera, one of 12, was installed on the N17 at Claremorris.

Senator Duffy raised the issue of schools. The Safe Routes to School Programme was launched in March 2021 with the aim of supporting walking, scooting and cycling to primary and post-primary schools, and creating safer walking and cycling routes within communities, through the provision of infrastructure interventions. It is important that we continue collectively to alleviate congestion at school gates, with over €290 million being expended nationally by the Department of Transport for active travel measures and with €3 million being allocated to the county of Mayo.

It is important that we understand there is a need for a greater working relationship with local authorities and the Senator mentioned that in his contribution. I concur with the Senator regarding the local transport plans and working with each local authority. The regional spatial and economic strategy for the northern and western region sets out that the Northern and Western Regional Assembly will support the collaborative preparation of local transport plans. This work will be led by the local authorities in conjunction with the NTA and other stakeholders to prepare local transport plans for selected settlements, including Ballina and Castlebar. Furthermore, the NTA, in conjunction with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, has developed an advice note which sets out a methodology on how to assess the opportunities and constraints for sustainable transport within an area. This area-based transport assessment methodology has been designed as a key input into local transport plans.

I thank the Senator for raising the matter and congratulate him on his election to Seanad Éireann.