A total of €412 million of Exchequer funds has been provided for major national roads projects across the country which are under construction or are in the early development process. This funding will also protect and renew the existing network to ensure its in a safe and robust condition.
In addition, a separate allocation of approximately €33 million is being provided for the day-to-day maintenance of the national road network.
Some of the major new national projects that will progress include the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge, the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy, the N25 Midleton to Youghal (Castlemartyr and Killeagh Bypasses), N17 Knock to Collooney and the N4 Mullingar to Longford roads.
Several bypasses and relief roads will move forward, including those in Adare, Virginia, Listowel, Ardee, and Foxford. Funding for 2024 is based on the National Development Plan 2021-2030 (NDP), which prioritises investments in transportation while also considering housing and healthcare needs.
A separate allocation of €72 million is being provided to local authorities to progress 70 Greenway projects across the country. The funding will see more Greenways completed in 2024 like the Limerick Greenway or the Waterford Greenways. In addition, the first section of the Midleton to Youghal Greenway will open in March, with other schemes moving through planning and design stages.
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Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan T.D. said: "A priority for this government is to ensure that the national road network we have put in place is safe and well maintained for all road users. Another priority is that we progress with the construction of by-passes around our historic market towns, so that people can enjoy safe, liveable, thriving communities without congestion and excess through traffic. These allocations are another milestone in a pathway of strategic investment in our National Road network over the remainder of this decade."
Minister of State Jack Chambers T.D 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, and the allocations which are being announced today 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. Over the lifetime of the NDP, €2.9 billion has been earmarked for this purpose.
"As part of the NDP, Government has also earmarked €5.1 billion for spending on new national roads projects until 2030. While the greater portion of this funding will become available during the second half of the decade, many projects will continue to be advanced in 2024."
In 2024, approximately 65km of Greenways are expected to be delivered in 2024 with planning decisions expected on a further 35km of Greenway. The remaining schemes will continue to be progressed through the design and feasibility stages.
The funds will also facilitate the initiation of the National Cycle Network rollout, as outlined in the January 2024 publication. This initiative maps out 3,500 kilometres of cycling pathways connecting cities and towns with populations exceeding 5,000 individuals.
On the Greenways allocations Minister Ryan stated: "I'm delighted to announce the 2024 Greenways spending programme. It means that we can expect that many projects of national and regional significance will be completed this year, like the Carlingford Lough Greenway and the Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway in the Northeast or the continued construction of the magnificent South Kerry Greenway in the Southwest. While these projects are great tourism amenities, greenways are first and foremost for locals so that they can visit neighbours, get to school or into their local towns safely."
Minister Chambers commented:
"The dividends associated with the increased level of investment in cycling and walking infrastructure in recent years are becoming evident with an acceleration of scheme delivery in the Greenways programme."
