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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

N2 and Border road funding

Summary

Deputy Carthy criticised the withdrawal of funding for the Clontibret-to-Border section of the N2 and said the region is being discriminated against. The Minister replied that the NDP still provides major road funding, noted the 2:1 public transport emphasis, and said he would look into the issue and ask for a response.

As the Minister is the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have to ask him if he is aware of the misuse of public transport funding that is discriminating against regions in this country? The N2 road alongside the A5 has been considered in several Government documents and plans to be a crucial artery and economic driver for both the central, Border and the north-western regions of the country. However, unilaterally, the funding for the next phase of the Clontibret to the Border section of that scheme was withdrawn this year. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, has confirmed that will be revisited at the direction of the Government. However, it seems that nobody in government is willing to make a case. I need to know if the Minister has been examining how this money is allocated and the fact it discriminates against key regions and is actually undermining other agreed Government policy.

Comment on this

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. As I said earlier, the Department of Transport has a funding commitment of €30 billion out to 2030 in the national development plan, NDP. We have a provision within the programme for Government for a 2:1 ratio in terms of new investment in favour of public transport infrastructure-----

Comment on this

There is no public transport in the region I am talking about.

Comment on this

-----relative to new road infrastructure. That still provides very significant funding for investment in new road infrastructure, including upgrades of existing primary and secondary national roads. I will look into the issue the Deputy raised and ask the Minister to respond to him.

Comment on this