James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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6. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline plans on multi-annual road funding as part of the Programme for Government; when he plans to start implementing this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22897/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his question.

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.

Under the current NDP, the Government has earmarked €5.1bn for capital spending on new national roads projects from 2021 to 2030, with a further €2.9bn for protection and renewal of the existing network. Many projects in the NDP have already been delivered, such as the Dunkettle Interchange and the N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom.

The programme for Government contains several commitments relating to roads budgets, including to increase funding for new roads as part of the NDP review, and to increase funding for protection and renewal of the road network. It is important to point out that the substantial funding of €633 million for National Roads to Local Authorities through TII is an increase of €92 million on the funding provided in 2024.

There is also a commitment to provide clarity on multi-annual funding for roads budgets during the lifetime of the Government. I intend to use the forthcoming NDP Review process as the basis for that clarity and look forward to developing an approach that will provide the certainty required for TII and local authorities to efficiently deliver the roads programme over the coming five years. The NDP has committed toward a number of important projects that promote regional connectivity across the country, including in the Cork area, and I look forward to working with the Deputy to seeing those projects proceed in line with Government’s priorities.