Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)

I thank the Senator for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien. The Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with TII under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015, and in line with the national development plan, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of national roads is a matter for TII in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII ultimately delivers the national roads programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and the NDP.

Funding for national roads is provided in the context of the NDP. The review of the NDP was published by the Government on the 22 July. This plan sets out capital ceilings for transport to 2030. The Department will now progress the sectoral plan for the 2026-30 period, which will be published later this year. This will take into account transport priorities in the coming years for all parts of the country, including County Roscommon. Funding provided through the NDP continues to deliver capital investment on new national roads, enabling improved regional accessibility across the country as well as compact growth, which are key national strategic outcomes.The funding provides for the development of numerous national road projects, 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. A major priority in the NDP, in line with the Department's investment hierarchy, is to maintain the quality and safety of the existing national road network. This includes funding for minor improvement projects and safety schemes such as junction upgrades and road realignment and pavement renewal.

As a greater proportion of funding becomes available in the NDP in the second half of the decade, this has meant there has been a constraint on the funding available for new projects in 2025. However, approximately €502 million of Exchequer capital funds for national roads was provided through TII to the local authorities for the construction of new roads and the protection and renewal of the existing network. I understand from TII that Roscommon County Council has not been in a position to prioritise the proposed ring road scheme in Castlerea due to the many competing demands from other schemes for these resources. Given the recent review of the NDP, TII is not in a position to consider funding a project on the N60 to bypass Castlerea until the sectoral plan for transport is published later this year. I made inquiries and my understanding is that there were informal discussions between Roscommon County Council and TII on the issue. However, no formal application has been made. I suggest that the Senator follow up with Roscommon County Council to interact with TII on this proposal in advance of the sectoral plans for transport, which will be published later this year.

In 2025, approximately €88 million was allocated for the construction of new national roads in Roscommon, with an additional €8 million being allocated for the improvement of the existing network. This has delivered significant improvements to the network, as demonstrated by the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge project, the construction of which is well under way. This important project will enhance regional accessibility and improve connectivity in the region. It will deliver improvements for all users of the N5. In addition to the investment into the national road network in County Roscommon, there is also significant investment in place for regional and local roads in the county. On 14 February 2025, the Minister for Transport announced an investment of €713 million in regional and local roads across the State. This is an overall increase of more than 8% in funding this year. Roscommon County Council received an allocation of almost €23 million, which is an increase of approximately €1.65 million on the 2024 allocation.