Seanad debates
Tuesday, 25 June 2024
Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters
Road Network
1:00 pm
Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. The N53 road from Castleblayney in County Monaghan to Dundalk in County Louth with a section that runs through Northern Ireland is a road of strategic importance with the importance of Dundalk Institute of Technology likely to increase in the not-too-distant future. The N53 is 23.5 km long, including a section that passes through Northern Ireland. The 6 km section that passes through Northern Ireland passes through Cullaville in County Armagh where it is classified as the A37 and is known locally as the Concession Road. Unfortunately, the N53 has a very poor safety record and is often described as an accident black spot. It is very narrow in places with poor verges and dangerous bends. It is in a poor state of repair in many places.
There have been some piecemeal improvements over the years but it is widely acknowledged that this road needs substantial improvement to bring it up to modern-day standards. Decades ago, families from County Monaghan would have travelled to Dundalk to shop or visit the beach in Blackrock. Now the increased usage on that road is down in no small measure to Dundalk Institute of Technology which is now pushing for status as a technological university. DkIT has over 5,000 students enrolled and provides graduate and postgraduate courses from levels 6 to 10. A range of developments have taken place with a view to obtaining technological university status for the third level education facility. The college has a catchment area which includes Louth, Meath, Cavan, Monaghan and indeed Dublin. DkIT is strategically important in providing the skills needed for local industry in the north east, including County Monaghan. Its links with local industries such as Combilift and with institutes such as the MIFET in Monaghan are of increasing importance to the development of linkages between third level facilities and future industries.
The N53 is something of a forgotten road in comparison with the A5 which has garnered much more attention over the years. However, for many people in Monaghan and Louth as well as County Armagh and the wider region, it is a very important route that could assist considerably with trade, infrastructural and educational links well into the future. I would be grateful if the Minister of State could provide me with an update on the potential funding available from various Departments. I know I will probably get the standard response on that. I would like the Minister of State to focus on the possibility of shared island funding for this road. I feel that is where the future is. It straddles the Border with Northern Ireland going through County Armagh. Strategically from the point of view of an educational facility with Dundalk IT, which should have university status very shortly, and indeed industry in the region it is vital that this road receives funding. I would like the Minister of State to explore the possibility of the shared island unit being an avenue for such funding.
Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for his question on the important matter of good transport connectivity in the Border area. I am delivering this response on behalf of the Minister for Transport who unfortunately could not be here today.
The Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding relating to the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, under the Roads Act 1993 to 2015 and in line with the national development plan, 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 conjunction with project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and the NDP.
The Government has earmarked €5.1 billion for capital spending on new national roads projects from 2021 to 2030 as part of the NDP. This funding will enable improved regional accessibility across the country as well as compact growth which are key national strategic outcomes. The funding will provide for the development of numerous national roads 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. As the greater proportion of this funding becomes available in the second half of the decade, this has meant that there is a constraint on the funding available for new projects in 2024.However, approximately €411 million of Exchequer funding was provided for national roads through TII to local authorities in 2024.
A major priority in the NDP, in line with the Department's investment hierarchy, is to maintain the quality and safety of the existing national road network. The NDP foresees an Exchequer allocation of circa €2.9 billion for the protection and renewal of existing national roads of the ten-year period to 2030, allocated fairly evenly across the decade. This includes funding for minor improvement projects, safety schemes such as junction upgrades and road realignment, and pavement renewal.
The N53 between Monaghan and Louth has been the subject of phased improvements under TII’s minor works programmes over recent years. Two improvement schemes have been completed to date. TIl is currently funding the Hackballscross to Rassan scheme on the N53 between Monaghan and Louth. An allocation has been provided in 2024 of €500,000 to Louth County Council. The project is currently at the enabling and procurement phase and comprises the realignment of approximately 3.4 km of the N53 between Hackballscross and Rassan.
Other projects in the region have been allocated funding in 2024. In County Monaghan, the N2 Clontibret to the Border scheme was allocated funding to progress the project through the design and environmental evaluation phase. This project is also in receipt of funding through the EU Connecting Europe Facility, CEF. In Louth, an allocation was made for the Ardee bypass which, when completed, would remove significant volumes of traffic from the town centre.
Details of the road scheme life cycle phases and decision gates are outlined in TII's major roads and greenways projects active list, which is available on the TII website. I hope this information is of assistance. I understand the Senator was requesting the cross-Border piece and it is not here in it, but I will bring that point back and raise it with the Minister.
Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as ucht an cheist seo a phlé. I acknowledge the script the Minister of State has read to us on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Ryan. I appreciate that funding has been received in Monaghan for the progression of the A5 Clontibret to the Border scheme and additional funding from the EU. Now is the time that this road got similar attention. I acknowledge that the Minister of State said he would bring the matter to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, with a view to exploring the possibility of getting shared island funding to explore this road as well. I thank the Minister of State for his efforts in that regard.
Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Transport has allocated national road funding for 2024 in a manner that seeks to achieve the following key outcomes: protection and renewal of the existing national road network; progressing major projects in or near construction; progressing major projects that are pre-construction but well advanced in the development pipeline; and prioritising any remaining funds for major projects that provide for local bypasses and compact growth in Ireland’s towns and villages.
It is important to note that in 2024, approximately €5.5 million in capital Exchequer funding was allocated for the national road network in Monaghan, with a further amount of approximately €1.9 million being allocated for the road network in Louth. This funds the protection and renewal of the existing road network, which includes upgrades to roads such as the N53. It also includes new national road projects such as the Ardee bypass and the N2 Clontibret to the Border project, as I mentioned. This is in keeping with the programme for Government, which commits to ensuring the existing national road network is maintained to a high standard and to investing in new roads infrastructure to ensure all parts of Ireland are connected to each other.
Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I thank the Senator and the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon. We really appreciate the Minister of State giving of his time here this afternoon for Commencement matters. It is appreciated by the House.