Senator annoyed that only €200,000 allocated to N4 project

A local senator is annoyed that the Dept of Transport has allocated no more than €200,000 to the N4 Mullingar Longford (Roosky) road improvement project.

Senator Micheál Carrigy pointed out that at the Joint Committee on Transport and Communication in November, he raised the issue of ongoing funding for the N4 with Peter Walsh, CEO of Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

Senator Carrigy reported that Mr Walsh said: ‘As for the N4, from Mullingar to Longford and Roosky, we are conscious that the high level of head-on collisions in particular was highlighted. That section of road warrants intervention and we have been keen to progress that project, insofar as funds will allow, and we will continue that. The project is well worth progressing, and if there is sufficient money, it will warrant progressing. In our opinion, it is a section of the network that has a less than ideal level of performance. There have been a lot of accidents on it.’

Senator Carrigy said: “On the N4 between Mullingar and Roosky, there have been 20 fatalities, 34 serious injuries and a further 218 accidents since 2008.

“The government have prioritised balanced regional development as core to the economics of this country, but the entire northwest beyond Mullingar is not benefiting from it.

“This is the missing piece from the jigsaw of the entire network with regard to accessibility to the capital. Significant funding has been spent west of Longford, on the N5 and the N4, yet there is a 50km section in the middle that has not been completed.

“It was removed from the national development plan in 2008 and reinstated after a great deal of pressure.

“The funding of €200,000 allocated to this project today is disgraceful and short-sighted. This funding will give the preferred route option but will not take it to the planning permission stage.

“This will not give clarity to hundreds of farmers, landowners and householders who, since 2008, have not known what to do with their property or land. That is not right.

“It is critical that the department ensure that this route be prioritised in the next round of funding.”

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€200k allocated for N4 upgrade between Mullingar and Longford

Funding for National Roads

Funding has been allocated in 2023 to the following projects, currently under, or close to, construction:

N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom

N8/N40 Dunkettle Interchange

N59 Moycullen Bypass

N69 Listowel Bypass

N5 Westport to Turlough

N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge

N56 Dungloe to Glenties

Funding has also been allocated in 2023 to the following projects, which are at an earlier stage in the development process:

M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy

N52 Ardee Bypass

N6 Galway City Ring Road

N21/69 Limerick to Foynes (including Adare Bypass)

N/M20 Cork to Limerick

Donegal TEN-T Route Improvement

N3 Clonee to M50

N2 Rath Roundabout to Kilmoon Cross

N4 Maynooth to Leixlip

N11/M11 Junction 4 to 14

Cork City Northern Transport Project

N11/N25 Oilgate to Rosslare

N22 Farranfore to Killarney

N3 Virginia Bypass

N4 Carrick on Shannon to Dromod

N21 Newcastle West Relief Road

N21 Abbeyfeale Relief Road

N72/73 Mallow Relief Road

N2 Slane Bypass

N24 Cahir to Limerick Junction (including Tipperary Bypass)

N58 Foxford Bypass

N25 Midleton to Youghal (Castlemartyr and Killeagh Bypasses)

N2 Ardee to Castleblayney

N17 Knock to Collooney

N4 Mullingar to Longford

N24 Waterford to Cahir

N2 Clontibret to the Border

Funding for greenways

Funding has been allocated in 2023 to the following greenway projects, currently under, or close to, construction:

Midleton to Youghal Greenway

Connemara - Clifden to Recess

Grand Canal - Aylmer Bridge to Sallins

North Kerry - Tralee to Fenit

North Kerry – Listowel to Limerick Border

South Kerry – Stages 2 & 3 – Glenbeigh to Cahersiveen

Cockleshell Road to the Spa

Clew Bay – Achill Sound & Extension to Bannacurry

Boyne Valley to Lakelands

Grand Canal – Offaly & Dublin

Waterford Greenway

Athlone Bridge Cycleway

South Eastern Greenway