Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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145. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on connectivity between air, rail and road transport across County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9497/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is committed to improving connectivity between various transport modes in County Mayo.

Air-Road-Rail Intermodal Connectivity

Ireland West Airport is currently accessible primarily by road. The main road connections are via the N17 and N5, which link the airport to the region. The N17 Knock to Collooney project, which is in the design and environmental phase, would deliver a major upgrade to the existing N17 and improve connectivity to the airport, particularly for traffic from Sligo and Donegal.

Regarding rail connectivity, there is no direct rail link to Ireland West Airport at the moment. The All-Island Strategic Rail Review was undertaken by the Department of Transport in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The Review informs the development of rail on the Island of Ireland in the coming decades to 2050, in line with net zero targets in both jurisdictions. The Review’s Final Report was published in July 2024.

The Review sets out 32 strategic recommendations to enhance and expand the rail system in Ireland and Northern Ireland up to 2050, including proposals to reinstate the Western Rail Corridor between Athenry to Claremorris. The review also noted other interventions which have potential to be progressed, including improving service frequencies between key Mayo towns, Westport and Ballina. It should be noted that that individual programmes and projects referred to within the final Review Report will be advanced subject to funding and relevant approvals, as required under the Infrastructure Guidelines in Ireland.

My Department is also overseeing substantial improvements in air, rail and road transport in County Mayo, contributing to improved connectivity to and within the region.

Air Connectivity

In line with National Aviation Policy, my Department provides substantial annual funding under a Regional Airports Programme which supports Ireland’s smallest regional airports - those that provide scheduled passenger services and handle fewer than one million passengers per annum. Ireland West Airport along with Kerry and Donegal airports are currently eligible for funding under this Programme in 2025.

The current Programme for the period 2021-2025 supports vital safety, security and sustainability activities and operations at these airports, as well as a Public Service Obligation (PSO) Air service between Dublin and Donegal.

In recognition of the importance of our regional airports to supporting connectivity to the regions and enhancing balanced regional development, a total package of almost €17m (c. €8m current and c. €9m capital) was announced for 2025, ensuring Government sustains the substantial high level supports to regional airports.

Since 2021, almost €22.56m in Exchequer funding has been allocated to Ireland West Airport compromising of €13.17m in capital funding, over €6.58m in operational funding and finally almost €2.81m under the COVID Supplementary Support Scheme for Irish Airports.

As the Deputy will be aware, the new Programme for Government commits to continuing to invest in the Regional Airports Programme and to develop a new Regional Airports Programme 2026-2030. I can assure the Deputy that this new Programme will be progressed by my Department as a matter of priority this year.

Rail Connectivity

IMMAC

The Infrastructure Managers Multi Annual Contract (IMMAC) provides a multi-annual investment programme to protect our national railway system by funding maintenance and safety projects needed to maintain safety and service levels in railway operations, including on the Westport/Ballina to Dublin rail lines. €380m has been allocated to go towards the protection and renewal of the national rail network in 2025.

Rail Service Improvements

In tandem with rail infrastructure improvements, my Department has also been increasing the regularity of rail services in Mayo.

Irish Rail, in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA), conduct an annual timetable review, with the most recent changes entering into force on the 25th of August 2024. These changes included increased services on the Mayo Westport to Dublin Heuston train line.

On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, there are now 5 services from Dublin Heuston to Mayo Westport. On Fridays, there are 6 services from Dublin Heuston to Westport. On Sundays, there are four daily services from Dublin Heuston to Mayo Westport.

Between Monday and Fridays, there are 6 services from Mayo Westport to Dublin Heuston, with one additional service on Saturdays. On Sundays, there are four services from Mayo Westport to Dublin Heuston. These increased services have helped to improve connectivity between Mayo and Roscommon, Athlone, Kildare, and Dublin.

National Roads

As Minister for Transport, I also have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, 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.

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.

The N59 Clifden to Maam Cross Project in Mayo is included in the NDP and will enable better access to Westport and its surrounding areas. However, as the greater portion of the funding in the NDP becomes available in the second half of the decade, this has meant that there was constraint on the funding available for new projects in 2024. While approximately €23m of exchequer capital funds was provided for national roads in Mayo through TII in 2024, the N59 Clifden to Maam Cross project did not receive funding. However, the delivery programme for this project will be kept under review for 2025 and considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available to TII.

The allocations for 2025 will be announced in the coming weeks.

Regional and Local Roads

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Councils' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority.

The 2025 regional and local road grants were notified to local authorities in February this year. Mayo County Council received an allocation of €40,566,060 for the maintenance and improvement of their regional and local roads network. Of this over €37 million was allocated to road protection and renewal.

Any new road projects that seek State funding are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects proposed by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines (formerly the Public Spending Code) and the Department's Transport Appraisal Framework. Given the limited funding available for regional and local road improvement works it is important for local authorities to prioritise projects within their overall area of responsibility with these requirements in mind.

In this regard, Mayo County Council has received an allocation of over €2.5 million in 2025 for six Specific Improvement Grant schemes, and for two Strategic Regional and Local Road Schemes; R332 Kilmaine to Tuam (Foxhall) and Cong Outer Relief Road.

It should be noted that Exchequer funding for regional and local roads is intended to supplement realistic contributions from local authorities’ own resources. As the statutory road authorities for their areas, it is open to local authorities to prioritise investment on regional and local roads.