The Department of Transport has announced €633 million in funding for new roads across Ireland. The figure includes the upkeep and maintenance of existing roads but will also include new projects such as the Adare Bypass, the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge, and the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy.
Environmental campaigns
Many motorists and hauliers will welcome the move, but it is not without controversy - environmental campaigners, pointing out that Ireland is still well behind the curve with reducing its CO2 emissions, have been calling for the roads budget to be diverted to public transport infrastructure instead.
'Vital road projects'
Nonetheless, the latest funding is an increase of €92 million over the 2024 roads budget. Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien said: “Funding new roads and advancing the national road projects in the current NDP is a priority for this government. The allocations I'm announcing today will enable multiple new road projects on the national road network to progress, including those that are at or close to construction. This will improve regional connectivity, support economic development, and remove traffic from towns and communities across the country - making the roads safer for all users. Projects such as the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge, which is under construction, and the Adare Bypass, for which contracts were signed on 28th February, demonstrate the clear commitment to the ongoing development of our national road network. In addition to the funding announced today, under the current NDP funding for national roads is expected to increase over the rest of the decade, unlocking more funding for vital key road projects around the country.”
'Safe and robust'
Minister of State with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney, said: “There has been a great deal of investment in the national road network in recent decades. This has helped to improve regional connectivity and has supported economic development across the country. Today's allocations build on this. Our first priority should be to safeguard our existing national roads to ensure that they are in a safe and robust condition for all road users, including freight traffic. Over the lifetime of the NDP, €2.9 billion has been earmarked for this purpose. This funding is also used for measures to improve road safety on the network, which is vital for the implementation of our Road Safety Strategy.”
Connected
Minister of State with responsibility for Rural Transport, Jerry Buttimer, said: “As Minister with responsibility for Rural Transport, I appreciate the important role played by the National Road Network in ensuring that all parts of Ireland are connected to each other. A safe and efficient National Road Network supports rural residents, allowing them to connect to work, education and healthcare. In addition, it also facilitates the many bus services that now serve rural Ireland. The funding announced today will serve to safeguard and improve this vital national asset for all our citizens.”
The full list of new and upgraded national primary routes to be included in the funding are: N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge; Adare Bypass; M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy; N52 Ardee Bypass; N6 Galway City Ring Road; Donegal TEN-T Route Improvement; N2 Slane Bypass. N3 Virginia Bypass; N/M20 Cork to Limerick; N2 Clontibret to the Border; N24 Cahir to Limerick Junction (including Tipperary Bypass); N4 Carrick-on-Shannon to Dromod; N21 Newcastle West Relief Road; N21 Abbeyfeale Relief Road; N22 Farranfore to Killarney; N72/73 Mallow Relief Road; N58 Foxford Bypass; N4 Mullingar to Longford; N11/N25 Oilgate to Rosslare; N17 Knock to Collooney; and the N25 Midleton to Youghal (Castlemartyr and Killeagh Bypasses).