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

I offer mo chomhghairdeas don Cheannaire, an Seanadóir Seán Kyne, as ucht a phoist nua. Beidh sé go hiontach sa ról sin, is dóigh liom.

I congratulate the Senator on his appointment and thank him for raising this very important matter of the N59.

In total, €411 million of Exchequer capital funds was provided for national roads through TII through local authorities in 2024 with €14 million for national roads in Galway under the national road allocations announced earlier. Allocations for 2025 will be announced in the coming weeks.

In the new NDP launched in October 2021, approximately €5.1 billion is earmarked for new national road projects to 2030. This funding will enable improved regional accessibility across the country as well as compact growth, which are key national strategic outcomes. The funding will provide for the development of national road projects in the NDP, including the completion of projects which are already at construction stage and those close to it, as well as the development of a number of others. The upgrade of the N59 between the Maam Cross and Oughterard project is included in the list of projects to be considered for prioritisation within the funding envelope of the NDP. The N59 Clifden to Maam Cross section of the route is also one of the projects listed within the NDP for progression. However, this scheme has not progressed in the past number of years due to funding constraints.

The upgrade of the N59 between Maam Cross and Bunnakill is, as Senator Kyne stated, a 5 km section and we welcome the improvements completed in 2021. Subsequent to this, both Galway County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland were keen to progress with advance works for the next 10 km section of the N59 between Bunnakill and Claremont. This will most likely progress as two separate 5 km sections. An allocation of €500,000 was provided in last year to facilitate this.

Planning and design of advance works on the next section of this scheme, Bunnakill to Claremont, has commenced. On this section, the NPWS and Galway County Council, as the Senator referenced, are liaising with each other on An Bord Pleanála condition. I stipulate that it is a Bord Pleanála condition requiring the approval of construction methods statements of mitigation for impacts on the freshwater pearl mussel population in the Owenriff river, which NPWS indicates may be beyond its legal jurisdiction. Work on tender documents for advance works are complete. I hope we will see progress on this. I will bring back the genuine concerns and comments of the Senator regarding it being the longest road in Ireland and also the importance of the route in terms of the Wild Atlantic Way.It is important that the council and the NPWS continue to liaise. If there is an obstacle, as was stipulated, and it is possible to overcome it, then let us do so. I will bring the Senator's concerns back to the Minister for Transport, on whose behalf I am taking this Commencement matter. He apologises he cannot be here this morning.