Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I wish to thank the Deputy for his question. My Department and TII are committed a safe network of National Roads. With regard to safety barriers, locations are identified through Road Safety Inspections, which is a proactive approach used by TII to identify suitable locations for safety measures, which may include the installation of barriers. These inspections are carried out on every National Road route and involves an experienced team of Safety Auditors driving the road in both directions, both in daylight and in darkness. Local authorities may also identify locations following inspections. It is important to note that prior to designing any safety barriers on the national road network the option to provide an alternative solution on the roadside, or to remove or mitigate the hazard is always explored. Only when no alternative measure is feasible would a barrier be installed.

On the N22, safety barriers were installed in a number of locations in 2022 and 2023. These barriers were installed to protect road users from hazards including water hazards, utility poles, and rock faces. The cost of these measures amounted to approximately €950,000.

Furthermore, the Deputy will be aware that the N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom project opened in October, bypassing an older section of the N22 with a new, safer road which bypasses Macroom and Ballyvourney. This has had the effect of removing long distance traffic, in particular HGVs, from town centres, greatly improving the safety and quality of life of residents. Furthermore, my Department, through TII, funds upgrades to existing National Roads, such as realigning roads at dangerous bends; pavement renewal, and surveys of the road network to identify blackspots.