Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government has earmarked €5.1bn for capital spending on new national roads projects from 2021 to 2030 as part of the NDP. 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 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.

As the greater portion of this funding becomes available in the second half of the decade, this means that there was a constraint on the funding available for new projects this year. As a result of this, a prioritisation exercise was necessary. In line with the NDP and Government policy, national road funding for 2024 was allocated in a manner which seeks to achieve the following key outcomes:

• Protection and renewal of the existing national road network
• Progressing major projects in or near construction
• Progressing major projects which are pre-construction but well advanced in the development pipeline

Prioritising any remaining funds for major projects which provide for local bypasses and Compact Growth in Ireland’s towns and villages.

My Department and TII are in regular communication regarding specific projects and the national roads programme more generally. As with all national roads projects in the NDP, the delivery programme for the N22 Killarney to Farranfore project will be kept under review in future years and considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available to TII. However, I can assure the Deputy that sufficient funding is in place to ensure that the route options phase will be concluded in 2024 with a preferred route selected.

The allocations for 2024 are due to be announced imminently.