104. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport the funding available for the national roads in 2025; if there will be funding for a project (details supplied) to take it through the next gateway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9325/25]

Sentiment score: 0.01

I congratulate the Minister on his appointment. I will ask about the very important issue of the upgrade of the N25 between Midleton and Youghal. This is one of the most dangerous sections of national road in the country. It has a long record of multiple, fatal and serious road traffic accidents causing lifelong injuries for those who have been sadly impacted. I have been very passionate about raising with the Government the matter of bypassing Castlemartyr and Killeagh villages. With funding due in the coming weeks, will the Minister fund the appointment of a design consultant, which has been promised, through TII funding?

Sentiment score: 0.06

I thank the Minister. I welcome his words on this and, as he has mentioned, the fact he came with me to visit the east Cork area, particularly the town of Youghal. Economically, Youghal needs a serious lift. People there have lost all faith in the Government. I do not believe the majority of the community there would have any issue with me stating that. As a local TD who lives there and who was born and raised in the area, I understand why. The lack of industry, jobs and investment and recent decisions on the large-scale IPA centre have led to a confluence of events in respect of which people are crying out for Government investment. A turning point in this regard will be the upgrading of the N25 corridor between Midleton and Youghal. More cars go through the village of Castlemartyr than travel on the Limerick–Galway motorway. This is a staggering statistic for a small, beautiful rural village. It goes to show how the lack of investment has had an effect. We have tailbacks and congestion stretching several kilometres in either direction morning and evening and this is having a huge impact on the quality of life. Does the Minister see why there is a need for the design consultant to be appointed urgently?

Sentiment score: 0.09

I thank the Minister and welcome his reply. I know from his time in the Department of housing that he has often faced down difficult challenges in respect of banging heads together to try to get results. It is not always achievable overnight; it takes years of hard work to make these things happen. One of the positive decisions taken, for which I fought in the programme for Government submission I made, was on the need for multi-annual road funding to give certainty to contractors involved in capital projects. We had an outrageous system where, every six months, the process changed in some format. There was an issue around funding, weather had an impact, and there were public spending code issues. There are five or six administrative barriers that stop capital projects from progressing. I have great faith in the capacity of the Minister, who is new to his Department, to iron out the backlogs, but could he give me some insight into whether he intends to tackle the red tape associated with getting capital projects built in the area of road transportation?

Sentiment score: 0.11