Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as ucht a bheith anseo linn inniu. I am looking for an up-to-date position on road safety improvements along the N22 between Macroom and Ballincollig in County Cork, particularly at the Castlemore junction. First, I acknowledge that we have seen significant work on the N22 over the last few years. We have seen the delivery of the Macroom bypass, which has made a massive difference to Macroom town and the environs.

It was a very positive step. The town and community had been promised it since the 1970s, so it was great to finally see it delivered three years ago. We now need to address the remaining section of the N22 between Macroom and Ovens and Ballincollig. This is an extremely busy national road. It is the main gateway from Cork into Kerry and crosses the county bounds. It is vital that we improve this infrastructure.

For very many years, there have been continuing concerns among residents and commuters about the high level of accidents on this road. The commuters who use the road to get to work, and the residents who live along it, are only too aware of how difficult it is to get out onto it. It is quite incredible, but there are around 25 major junctions between Macroom and Ballincollig and, unfortunately, there have been a massive number of collisions at those junctions over the years.

The Castlemore junction, as I have highlighted, is one of the junction that requires particular attention. The Castlemore junction is where the R585 meets the N22 and has already been identified as a high collision location. There are approximately 9,500 vehicles using this section of road every day. That is a very substantial volume of traffic. The proposed solution is to replace the existing priority junction with a roundabout, which would address in particular the difficulties associated with vehicles turning right from Castlemore towards Cork. While this is a necessary intervention, where exactly does this project now stand? Previous information indicated that the scheme was at the early development stage and I understand that it may have gone as far as design stage, but we are still being told that the project may not be delivered until 2029. I ask the Minister of State to confirm whether that is still the anticipated delivery date. If, unfortunately, it is, what kinds of interim safety measure are we looking at, given the safety concerns and volume of traffic at this junction?

The Macroom bypass has shown what can be achieved when we put in this level of investment. It also highlights the need to address the remaining sections of the route. As I understand it, no work has been done to advance the necessary works at this section of the road from Macroom to Ovens, which is the last remaining national road within County Cork that does not have an upgrade plan or some plan in place for its redevelopment. That is an incredible situation considering the volume of traffic and lets down the progress that has been made. The bypass provides a very high-quality road as far as Macroom and there is a high-quality road on the way back into the city but the rural part, from Macroom to Ovens, has been completely neglected.

I am a realist and know that such a major project cannot be delivered overnight but communities need certainty and safety is of great concern, given the amount of collisions we have seen. There was a death on this road three years ago and as a result, interim safety measures were installed. I do not want to be here speaking again when somebody else dies and saying that we spoke about this already but the urgency to deal with it was not taken on board.

I ask the Minister of State for a clear update today on the overall road safety programme and, particularly, on Castlemore junction.

I thank Senator Lynch for tabling this matter. The matter of infrastructure investment to support road safety, as well as quality of life for people who rely on the N22, is important to the Department. The Minister for Transport has 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, 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. TIl ultimately delivers the national roads programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and the NDP.

It is important to point out that a number of major national roads projects have already been delivered under the current national development plan. This includes a significant upgrade to the N22, namely, the Ballyvourney to Macroom project, which opened in 2023, as well as the Dunkettle interchange upgrade. The Senator has commented on how successful they have been.

Approximately €659 million of Exchequer capital funds were provided for national roads through TII to local authorities in 2026. This is used for the construction of major new roads projects as well as the protection and renewal of the existing network. Of this, almost €138.66 million was allocated to Cork County Council.

A major priority of the national development plan, in line with the Department’s investment hierarchy, is to maintain the quality and safety of the existing national roads network. This includes funding for minor improvement projects, safety schemes such as junction upgrades and road realignment, and pavement renewal.

There has been significant investment in the N22 in County Cork in recent years. This year alone has seen €3.5 million allocated to pavement schemes alone on the N22 in Cork.

Regarding the N22 Castlemore junction scheme, Cork County Council is in the process of procuring technical advisers to progress the design of a new roundabout at the Castlemore junction. It is expected that this appointment will be completed and design commenced in 2026. With regard to timelines, and while I know that the Senator hopes to hear some clear information today, it is difficult to say at this point because the land acquisition process is likely to influence delivery.

On other safety interventions on the N22 in County Cork, a right turn lane was introduced last year at the Kilcondy junction. Also, traffic calming and safety measures are under way at Srelane, with expected completion in October.

The allocations provided are in the allocations booklet published by TII and available on its website. TII will continue to work closely with Cork County Council to identify critical areas for intervention on the N22 as well as other national routes in Cork, subject to available funding.

I hope that this message is of some assistance to the Senator.

I thank the Minister of State for outlining that message and taking my question. I do not for one second want to take away from the massive volume of investment and work that has been done on this road. The delivery of the bypass between Ballyvourney and Macroom was a massive achievement. It had been discussed in the area since the 1970s and it was delivered in 2023. The bypass is working well. I appreciate that a lot of money is invested in roads in County Cork and I acknowledge that the county has one of the largest road networks in the country, so it merits the money that we get.

In terms of when the Castlemore project will be expedited, we still do not really have a delivery date, even though technical advisers are being procured. All of this takes an incredible amount of time and is incredibly frustrating for anybody, either a public representative or a member of the public.

I note that €3.5 million has been allocated for pavement schemes. These works are going well and there is no doubt that they are beneficial but I wonder sometimes if the wrong things are being prioritised when it comes to roads funding. I would argue that interim safety measures on this road are more vital than footpaths at the moment. I understand that there are different funding phases and money cannot be moved from one scheme to another but I urge the Minister of State to convey the importance of this project to the Minister. I do not want to be standing here in a few months or a year's time and have to say that there has been a fatal collision on this road as a result of a lack of safety measures.

In line with the national development plan and Government policy, the Minister for Transport has allocated national roads funding in a manner that seeks to achieve the following outcomes: the protection and renewal of the existing national roads network; progressing major projects in or near construction; and progressing major projects that are preconstruction but well advanced in the development pipeline.

It is important to note that, in 2026, approximately €138.66 million in capital Exchequer funding was allocated for the national road network in County Cork. This funds the protection and renewal of the existing roads network and includes new national road projects. This is in keeping with the programme for Government, which commits to enhancing connectivity across urban and rural areas through investing in diverse transport options, including roads, and to investing in all road projects in the current national development plan.

As part of the programme for Government, there is a commitment to increase funding for new roads as part of the national development plan's review and maintenance of existing roads. The national development plan review's sectoral investment plan for transport was published by the Government on 26 November. The sectoral investment plan sets out capital ceilings for transport to 2030 and received increased investment in transport infrastructure as compared to the first half of the decade.

The Senator asked for an up-to-date position on road safety improvement works at the N22 junctions between Macroom and Ballincollig, including the works at the Castlemore junction. She also asked for the expected delivery time. I will pass on her message to the Minister and I appreciate the Senator raising it today.