Written answers
Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Transport Policy
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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249. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has undertaken any analysis of regulation and potential bureaucracy that relates to the delivery of transport infrastructure in Ireland; and the details of that analysis. [32686/25]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Department has not carried out a general systematic analysis of regulations and administration that relate to the delivery of transport infrastructure. The Department has provided views on how to expedite project delivery, as part of its recent engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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250. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to detail which transport infrastructure projects are currently late in their delivery and which transport infrastructure projects are currently over budget. [32687/25]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated by my officials and will be forwarded to the Deputy by my private office within ten working days.
Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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251. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to publish an infrastructure plan for active travel and roads. [32701/25]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and securing 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. TII ultimately delivers the National Roads Programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the National Planning Framework and the NDP.
The National Development Plan contains information on major public investment approved by Government, such as details of major new national road projects, including those at an early stage that are subject to further approvals. The Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation are leading the review of the NDP, which is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. Funding commitments for 2026 and beyond are currently under consideration as part of this review.
For more detailed information on projects and improvements on national roads please see the latest information from TII here: www.tii.ie/en/roads-tolling/projects-and-improvements/
As Minister for Transport, I also have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel and Greenways infrastructure. The National Transport Authority (NTA) and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) along with the relevant local authorities are responsible for the development and delivery of individual projects.
It is critical that active travel infrastructure is implemented in a considered manner that has been informed by multi-criteria analyses that consider a range of factors including potential demand, safety, and social benefits. In this regard, three cycling strategies have been developed in recent years that set out a cohesive cycling infrastructure network. The National Cycle Network (NCN) sets out the inter-urban cycling network (approximately 3,500km) around the country linking urban centres, this network will include many existing and planned Greenway routes. Cycle Connects represents the intra-urban cycling network (in all regions excepting the Greater Dublin Area) which sets out routes within urban centres in each county. The Greater Dublin Area (GDA) Cycle Network Plan sets out cycle networks within the GDA. Delivery of these strategies is underway with funding of c. €360M provided in 2025 to fund active travel and greenway infrastructure.
Funding commitments for 2026 and beyond for this investment programme are also currently under consideration as part of the review of the National Development Plan.
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 by 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 primary focus for capital investment for regional and local roads under the existing National Development Plan continues to be the protection and renewal of the regional and local road network, which plays a critical role in supporting economic and community links throughout the country. In addition to maintaining the regional and local road network in good repair, it is a priority to carry out targeted improvements to sections of the network. In this regard, eight schemes identified for development under the NDP have been completed including the Shannon Crossing, Killaloe Bypass and R494 Upgrade which opened in May 2025, the Athy Southern Distributor Road, Sallins Bypass and the Sligo Western Distributor Road along with the Laytown to Bettystown Link Road. A further two projects are at construction stage, namely the Tralee Northern Relief Road and Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road in Limerick City.
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