Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, to the House.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter and welcome the Minister of State to the House. The purpose of this Commencement matter is to highlight the concerns raised by councillors in counties Cork, Monaghan, Longford, Westmeath, Tipperary, Waterford, Offaly and Galway, from whom I have received representations. I am asking the Minister for Transport to explain the rationale behind the decision to shelve certain major road projects scheduled for this year; and to make a statement on the matter. The roads that I wish to single out for attention are the N25 from Carrigtwohill to Midleton in County Cork; the N2 from Clontibret to the Border in County Monaghan; the N4 from Mullingar to Longford in counties Westmeath and Longford; the N24 from Waterford to Cahir, County Tipperary; the N25 from Waterford to Glenmore, County Kilkenny; the N52 from Tullamore to Kilbeggan in counties Offaly and Westmeath; and the N59 from Clifden to Maam Cross.

The councillors who raised the matter with me said that they were somewhat concerned by the official statement issued by the Department and the Minister, in which the Department of Transport confirmed that the projects had been stalled and would be considered for funding next year or possibly the year after. An explanation of the rationale for the decision is required. What is the logic for it? There may be other valid reasons for the decision that people are simply not aware of. Perhaps they have been missed. However, I think there is, and was, an expectation among the Oireachtas Members in these areas and indeed, the citizens and people who travel on these roads and their local councillors, that these works would be done. The projects are not new; they have long been thought-out. They were part of the plan and the programme of national roads projects. I know that the Minister of State is very familiar with these roads. When people hear and read that local, and particularly important, road projects are shelved for an indefinite period, there is some concern. It is happening at a time when I thought there was a substantial amount of money around for critical infrastructure, which these roads are. We cannot argue with that. It is important to have critical infrastructure for the travelling public but also for the commercial life and the economy of the country. These are significant and important routes. I would appreciate it if the Minister of State could shine a light on the issue and perhaps outline some of the rationale behind the decision and a possible timeline for the new dates on which these projects might commence.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this important issue. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport, who has responsibility for the overall policy and Exchequer funding for the national roads programme, which includes the motorway network along with national primary and secondary roads.

As the Senator may be aware, once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015, and in line with the national development plan, NDP, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual 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. In the new NDP, which was launched in October 2021, approximately €5.1 billion is earmarked for new national road projects up to 2030. This funding will enable improved regional accessibility across the country, as well as compact growth in our towns and villages, which are key national strategic outcomes. The funding will provide 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.This year, approximately €615 million of that €5.1 billion of Exchequer capital funding has been provided for national road projects through TII to local authorities. These allocations were announced on 17 December 2021 and details are available on the website. Funding for regional and local roads was announced earlier today.

I agree wholeheartedly with what Senator Boyhan said regarding the importance of the road projects he outlined. I thank him for raising this issue on behalf of councillors in several counties. My colleagues, Senators Paul Daly and Carrigy and Deputy Flaherty have also raised this issue, as I have, with the Minister for Transport. When the roads projects office is undertaking its planning, it is important for it to have certainty regarding when these projects can progress.

As I said, €5.1 billion is earmarked in this regard up to 2030. We need greater certainty, however, concerning when these roads projects, as outlined by Senator Boyhan, will be progressed. I know the roads from Mullingar to Longford and Tullamore to Kilbeggan especially well. In some cases, these projects only require a small amount of money to progress to the next stage. As the Senator rightly said, the landowners on the routes also need certainty and clarification. I have been consulting with the Minister for Transport in this regard. He has assured me that he has brought my concerns to the attention of TII. I assure the Senator that on foot of his strong contribution on behalf of the councillors in the respective counties that I will now go back to the Minister to ask him to engage with TII to bring certainty and clarity in respect of the road projects highlighted in the Senator's Commencement matter.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State for that comprehensive response. The disappointing aspect is that these road projects were announced, there was great excitement and press releases were issued. Local politicians promoted and welcomed these projects, as did the Minister of State. He travels these roads and two of them relate directly to his constituency. Therefore, I have every confidence that he will make these projects happen and that he will pursue this matter.

We need some sort of indication now that these projects will be back under way in 2023. I say that because there is some disappointment in this regard and a suggestion that certain elements of the Government are not pro-roads to the same extent. These projects, however, are critically important. They concern rural connectivity, communities and the economy. I thank the Minister of State again for his comprehensive response, and I will come back to him if I need further information.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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The Senator is right. There has been disappointment. Nobody likes to see a road project on schedule moving backwards. We want to see these projects continue to move forwards. Funding of €5.1 billion has been allocated to the roads programme up to 2030, and in that context the bare minimum required is certainty regarding when these projects can move to the next stage. The local authorities need to know, as do the impacted landowners and road users.

Some of these roads are very dangerous. They have a high frequency of accidents and require upgrading. I have undertaken already, and I do so again now, to bring the Senator's concerns back to the Minister for Transport and to try to ascertain a clear timeframe for these projects. I would like to see a clear timeframe for work to be undertaken on the road from Mullingar to Longford. It is a busy road and one with a high frequency of accidents. It went through various stages of work to 2010, and was then paused. I do not want to see this project paused again. I undertake to raise Senator Boyhan's concerns with the Minister for Transport and to ask him to respond directly to the Senator.