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

I thank Senator Duffy. He is right. Action is needed in terms of the simple asks such as changing traffic lights, traffic flow, orbital routes and easing congestion. It is not a mammoth ask and it should be done with ease.

With regard to new national road projects, there was a funding constraint in 2024 as the bulk of the €5.1 billion allocated for new roads becomes available in the second half of the decade. I hope we will see an exponential increase in spending. However, a number of new road projects listed in the NDP have already been completed. As the Senator knows quite well, these are the upgraded N5 Westport to Turlough project and the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge project which is under construction and will greatly improve accessibility for people in Mayo.

Protection and renewal of existing national roads is a priority for the Government. The majority of funding allocated for Mayo in 2024 was utilised for this purpose. This funding is used for junction improvements, pavement renewal, road safety improvements, maintenance of structures such as bridges and the progression of minor improvement projects. In addition, in line with the NDP and Government policy, the TII will allocate national road funding for 2025 in a manner which seeks to achieve a number of outcomes, namely, protection and renewal of the existing national road network, progressing major projects which are near construction and progressing major projects which are at an earlier stage of the development pipeline. As I said, the allocation of funding is due in the coming weeks.

The Government, including me, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, is committed to road safety and to the target set out in the road safety strategy. Yesterday, we appointed a new chairperson of the RSA, Ms Anne Graham. We will see a new revamped RSA in the coming weeks and months. We are committed to achieving Vision Zero.

I will work with the Senator and with all Members of the House to ensure implementation of that the Safe Route to Schools Programme, which is important for rural Ireland and which comes under my area in the Department of Rural and Community Development in the context of rural transport, so that students, teachers and parents can access school in safety across County Mayo.