Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)

I thank Senator Boyle for the question. I am familiar with the area he spoke about. I had the privilege of representing Donegal for three terms in the European Parliament so I well know where Dunkineely is. The Minister for Transport is the person who has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding relating to the national roads programme.Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts and in line with the national development plan, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

A priority in the NDP is to maintain the quality and safety of the existing national road network. In the context of the national roads programme capital budget, which is provided by the Department to TII, significant funding has been provided towards the safeguarding of the national road network. In 2025, approximately €15.6 million in capital Exchequer funding was allocated for the protection and renewal of the existing national road network in Donegal. It is important to say that this includes allocations for minor road improvements on the N56.

TII's road safety section discussed the progression of potential safety improvements on the N56 at Dunkineely National School with Donegal County Council at a meeting held in March this year. Donegal County Council is finalising an assessment of potential options at this location. Following this, a report will be prepared setting out the safety measures Donegal County Council proposes to implement, the estimated scheme costs and the expected safety benefits. TII anticipates submission of the finalised report to TII for consideration by the end of June, about six weeks from now. Once approved, any works at this location will be considered for funding in 2026 subject to funding availability.

Apart from that, the Minister of State with responsibility for international and road transport, logistics, rail and ports, Deputy Seán Canney, has responsibility for the safe routes to school programme. I am advised invitations to make expressions of interest for that programme were sent to all primary and secondary schools in the country. A total of 932 schools applied for this programme, which is about a quarter of all schools in the country. A total of 170 schools were selected in round 1 in 2021. Round 2 consisted of 108 schools and round 3 of 141 schools in November last year. The nature of the safe routes to school programme is that all schools which initially applied will eventually enter the programme on a rolling basis. It is my understanding that Dunkineely National School did not apply for this programme.

It should be noted that if a school is not currently in this programme, it does not mean it will not receive any new or improved active travel infrastructure. While there are no plans for an additional call for schools to join the programme, funding for active travel infrastructure for schools is not confined to the safe routes to schools programme. In some cases, schools outside that programme are included in wider active travel projects if they are in the vicinity of these works. I will finish my comments after the Senator's reply.