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

I take the Senator's point regarding the project being moved forward and the issue of surveys being undertaken. As Members will be aware, due to the outlined funding constraints for national roads, a prioritisation exercise was deemed necessary in line with the NDP and Government policy. The Minister for Transport has allocated for national roads in a manner that seeks to achieve a number of outcomes, namely, the protection and renewal of the existing road network, progressing major projects under construction, progressing major projects that are pre-construction but well advanced in the development pipeline, and prioritising any remaining funds for major projects that provide for local bypasses and compact growth in Ireland's towns and villages. As the Senator will be aware, more than €36 million has been allocated by the Government to road projects in County Monaghan since 2020. This funds the protection and renewal of the existing road network as well as national road projects such as the N2 Ardee to Castleblayney project. The Government is committed under its programme for Government to enhance connectivity across urban and rural roads, to investing in diverse traffic options, including roads, and to investing in all road projects in the current national development plan. I will take the Senator's remarks back to the Minister, particularly those around the area of the surveys being undertaken and the amount that the local authority has spent on the road, which makes the case that we should progress with the road. I thank the Senator for raising the matter.