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