Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2026
107. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport the funding allocation in 2026 for the N2 Ardee to Castleblayney Road and Clontibret to the Border road schemes; the estimated date for completion of each scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1245/26]
View answerI thank the Deputy for his question. I know that the progression of these projects is of great interest to him.
In 2025, €502 million of exchequer capital funds was provided to TII for national roads. This included approximately €8.8 million for projects in Monaghan and a further €2.4 million for projects in Louth.
The N2 Clontibret to the Border project is currently at the Design and Environmental Evaluation stage of the project management guidelines. It is expected to be submitted to my Department this year, ahead of a Government decision on whether to grant approval-in-principal, as is required under the Infrastructure Guidelines. Subject to Government approval, it would then proceed to a planning application. As part of the National Road allocations for 2025, the project received an allocation of €3 million.
The N2 Ardee to Castleblayney project is also at the Design and Environmental Evaluation stage but it was not possible to provide an allocation for the project in 2025. However, along with the Clontibret to the Border project, it was included in the Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport, which was published late last year, and it is hoped that it will be progressed in the coming years. Other projects in the north east which are listed in the plan include bypasses of Slane, Ardee and Virginia.
As the Deputy will be aware, in the Programme for Government, we have committed to investing in all road projects in the current National Development Plan and to increased funding for new roads as part of the NDP review.
I look forward to the announcement of the 2026 allocations for national roads in the coming weeks, at which point it will be possible to offer greater clarity regarding the two projects mentioned by the Deputy.
I hope that this information is of assistance to you.
