Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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300. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the practice of 2:1 spending public transport initiatives versus roads will continue or if there will be a review of this policy under the new National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38581/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.

The National Development Plan (NDP) Review was progressed in line with Programme for Government commitments and published in July this year. As stated in the Programme for Government, the NDP Review sought to “progress all key public transport infrastructure in the National Development Plan and consider new public transport projects in the review of the NDP."

The publication confirmed the Department of Transport's annual NDP capital allocations from 2026 to 2030, and the Government's overall capital expenditure ceilings to 2035.

The Government will invest in all road projects in the current NDP. This year, €633 million in funding was allocated for national roads, €92 million higher than in 2024. €713 million is for the protection and renewal of Ireland's regional and local road networks, an overall increase of over 8% in funding this year.

My Department is reviewing key programmes and projects in the transport sector in the context of the NDP capital funding envelope and a decision on a programme of delivery with this level of capital investment, including for roads and public transport, will be made in the coming months.