Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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87. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the public concern at the closure of the Herbert Road Junction in Bray as part of the N11-M11 upgrades; if his Department will examine an alternative to that closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22844/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Infrastructure Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals.

I understand that Wicklow County Council has completed the Options Selection phase for the N11/M11 bus Priority Scheme. The project made presentations to elected members of Bray Municipal District, Wicklow County Council, and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

The Options Selection Report details the proposed extensive enhancement to Junction 7 which is intended to make the operation of the Junction more efficient and resolve much of the delay currently being experienced, as well as handling the revised traffic pattern after implementation of the scheme.

The primary objective of the bus priority scheme is to provide the hard shoulder as a running lane for buses only during peak traffic periods. A number of direct uncontrolled accesses to the N11, between Junctions 6 and 7, are being closed as part of the proposed scheme, with alternative access being provided via new links to the existing grade separated junctions. This is also intended to improve road safety for all users of the N11/M11.

Wicklow County Council has held a number of public consultations on this scheme and has taken all submissions received into account when assessing the various options, ultimately determining the preferred option, which can be viewed at .