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For Oral Answer on : 26/04/2022
Question Number(s): 91,126 Question Reference(s): 21022/22, 21021/22
Department: Transport
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
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QUESTION



* To ask the Minister for Transport the current status of the proposed upgrade of the N25 national road between Midleton and Carrigtwohill, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– David Stanton T.D.


For ORAL answer on Tuesday, 26 April, 2022.

* To ask the Minister for Transport if his Department will provide additional support to allow the proposed upgrade of the N25 national road between Midleton and Carrigtwohill, County Cork to proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– David Stanton T.D.


For ORAL answer on Tuesday, 26 April, 2022.

REPLY


As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for 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.


In the new NDP launched in October 2021, approximately €5.1 billion is earmarked for new national road projects to 2030. This funding will facilitate improved regional accessibility and will also support compact growth, both of which are key national strategic outcomes in the National Planning Framework. The funding will provide for the development of a number of national road projects, including the completion of projects which are already at construction stage and those close to it, as well as the development of a number of others. The N25 Carrigtwohill to Midleton project is included in the list of projects to be evaluated for potential prioritisation during the period covered by the NDP. 


Due to the fact that the greater portion of the NDP funding for road projects becomes available in the second half of the decade, there is a constraint on the funding available for new projects this year. However, most national road projects in the NDP will continue to be progressed in 2022.  Projects such as the N25 Carrigtwohill to Midleton, which do not have the required funding to progress this year, remain part of the NDP and will be considered for funding in future years. 


With regard to the current status of the preparatory work on the project, I am advised by TII that technical advisors have completed their assessment of the route options for the N25 project and have determined the preferred solution. Improvements to crossings over this very busy section of the N25, to improve safety and enhance active travel, are being considered as part of the scheme. Given funding constraints it will not be possible to progress the project to design and development of the Business Case this year. The delivery programme for the project will be kept under review for next year and considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available for the National Roads Programme.