Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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236. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether the Kilkenny Northern Transport Project is identified within the current NDP/National Investment Framework; what, if any, indicative capital envelope is provided for the scheme; and whether any previous 2013 era allocation or provision lapsed or was re-profiled. [52900/25]

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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252. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current status of the Kilkenny Northern Transport Project (formerly the Kilkenny Northern Ring Road Extension), including the stage reached under the infrastructure guidelines/public spending code; the expected timeline and key milestones to complete the options stage and proceed to planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52894/25]

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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254. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will publish the strategic assessment report, the updated project outline document and any 2024-2025 traffic and junction analyses for the Butts Green area; and to place these documents in the Oireachtas Library and Research Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52896/25]

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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255. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amounts allocated to the Kilkenny Northern Transport Project in each of the years 2024, 2025 and projected for 2026; the specific deliverables attached to the €200,000 provided in 2025; whether multi-annual funding will be committed to bring the project through options selection, environmental surveys and statutory planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52897/25]

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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256. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a project is now titled the 'Kilkenny Northern Transport Project'; whether its scope extends beyond a ring road link (such as active travel or public transport components); if any change in scope has contributed to the restart at early appraisal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52898/25]

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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257. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline his Department's and TII's engagement with Kilkenny County Council since 2022, including direction given on compliance with updated infrastructure guidelines and the transport appraisal framework; if he will provide target dates agreed with the council for submission of the preferred option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52899/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 236, 252 and 254 to 257, inclusive, together.

In accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, each local authority has statutory responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of their regional and local roads. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources and are supplemented by State Road grants. Of these grants, the vast majority (approximately 90%) are targeted at the maintenance and renewal of the network with c. 10% of the remaining funding invested in new roads/bridges or for road realignments.

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 line with Government requirements Kilkenny County Council produced a Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) for the Kilkenny Northern Ring Road Extension and a draft was forwarded to the Department in January 2023. The Department reviewed the SAR and returned its comments and observations to Kilkenny County Council for consideration.

Since then, both the Public Spending Code and the Department’s Transport Appraisal Framework (TAF) guidance have been updated - the Department continues to liaise with the Council regarding new requirements under the new infrastructure Guidelines and the TAF including the preparation of a Project Outline Document (POD) and business case incorporating the work already undertaken at the SAR stage.

In 2024, the Department provided funding for an updated POD, which has been submitted to the Department by Kilkenny County Council, and while this process was underway funding was also allocated for Traffic/Junction Analysis in the Butts Green area of the City to further assess and understand traffic patterns in the city.

Following a review of the POD by the Department, €200,000 has been allocated to the Kilkenny Northern Transport Project (formerly Kilkenny Northern Ring Road Extension Project) in 2025 to allow Kilkenny County Council to progress the project to the Options Stage.

As regards the funding allocated to and drawn down for the Kilkenny Northern Transport Project, details of the regional and local road allocations and payments to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road allocations and payments booklets which are available on the Oireachtas Digital Library.

The 2026 regional and local road grant allocations will be finalised following the publication of the Revised Estimates Volume and will take into account the expenditure outturn on projects and programmes in the preceding year. Within the budget available, the objective is to allocate funding to eligible local authorities on as equitable a basis as possible taking the length of the road network into account. The main focus of the grants continues to be the protection and renewal of the regional and local road network.