Written answer
Road Projects
In 2026, allocations were €3.5m for N/M20, €600,000 for Mallow Relief Road, €500,000 for Carrigtwohill–Midleton, €110m for M28 and €400,000 for Cork Northern Transport. Atkins has been appointed for the Northern Distributor Route, with €1.5m allocated, but its estimated €275m construction funding remains unresolved; project updates were referred to TII.
157. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport for a progress update on the N-M20 Cork to Limerick, N72-N73 Mallow Relief Road, Cork City Northern Transport Project, N25 Carrigtwohill to Midleton, and M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy schemes; their phase under the Infrastructure Guidelines, the allocations and drawdowns in 2026, and planning submission dates to An Coimisiún Pleanála; the status of the N-M20 business case and its timeline for Government approval; and the 2026 funding allocated to Cork City and County Councils for the Cork Northern Distributor Multi-Modal Road. [67467/26]
Comment on this
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Infrastructure Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you on the status of these projects.
I can confirm that €3,500,000 has been allocated for the N/M20 Limerick to Cork scheme, €600,000 has been allocated for the N72/N73 Mallow Relief Road scheme, €500,000 has been allocated for the N25 Carrigtwohill to Midleton scheme, €110,000,000 has been allocated for the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy scheme and €400,000 has been allocated for the Cork City Northern Transport Project in 2026. As with all national roads projects in the NDP, the delivery programme for the project will be kept under review for 2027 and considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available to TII.
The Northern Distributor Multi-Modal Route, which is planned to link the N22 (Carrigrohane Road) to Glanmire, was established in the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy. It is intended that the Northern Distributor Multi-Modal Route will include both car traffic and bus lanes, as well as cycling and pedestrian facilities.
In Q1 2026, Cork City Council launched the tender process, with a closing date of 13th March 2026. The eTenders page is available at: https://www.etenders.gov.ie/epps/cft/prepareViewCfTWS.do?resourceId=6962773
Cork City have confirmed that the tender process is now complete, and Atkins have been appointed as the consultants. Their 'kick-off meeting' with the CCC project team took place in July 2026. Phases 3 and 4 are still scheduled over the next 36-month period.
The NDR project received an initial NTA allocation of €1.5 million in 2026. As of August 2026, it is expected that between €500,000 and €750,000 of this funding will be drawn down by year-end.
Based on correspondence between the NTA, the Department of Transport, and Cork City Council in 2025, funding for the pre-construction phases of the project (Phases 1 – 5) has been profiled and broadly agreed through to 2030, with the NTA acting as the Approving Authority for these stages. The estimated expenditure for Phases 1 – 5 is approximately €26.5 million.
The funding profile and source for the subsequent construction and implementation phase, currently estimated at approximately €275 million, has yet to be confirmed. Accordingly, funding for the construction of the NDR remains subject to future NDP and Government funding decisions
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.