The Government of Ireland has published its €24bn plan for roads, rail, aviation, maritime and active travel projects it intends to begin over the next four years. Under the National Development Plan, the public transport projects that are being prioritised are Phase 1 of the Cork Area Commuter Rail programme, construction of DART in Dublin, and the replacement of the existing DART fleet, says RTE.
Some €9.7bn will be invested in renewing the road network, delivering new national and regional roads and bypasses, and investing in the EV charging network.
Major roads projects that are expected to begin construction by 2030 include the Slane Bypass, Galway City Ring Road, the N17 Knock to Collooney road in Co Sligo, the M20 Cork to Limerick (pictured) and the upgraded Limerick to Foynes road including the Adare Bypass.
Smaller projects that will begin construction include the Mallow Relief Road, Ardee Bypass, N3 Clonee to the M50 road and the Foxford Transport Project.
€1.8bn will be invested in active travel and greenways to deliver 1000km of new and upgraded walking and cycle infrastructure by 2030. Construction will also get under way on the Western Rail Corridor link from Athenry to Claremorris and the MetroLink project in north Dublin is also included.
More electric buses will be purchased and there will be construction of multiple Core Bus Corridors in the capital with construction expected in Cork and Galway, with at least €10bn will spent on public transport under the plan.
The Minister for Transport has denied that the Government has rowed back on supporting public transport over building roads.
Darragh O’Brien was asked why the Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport 2026-2030 was skewed more evenly towards public transport and roads, compared to a previous 2:1 ratio when the Greens were also in Government.
“The ratio’s not one to one,” he said, “we’ve never seen as many public transport projects actually being delivered in a five-year period”.
He said roads are critical for connectivity, and from a road safety perspective and an environmental perspective, adding that they were an economic driver too.
Minister O’Brien also said any new and future infrastructure projects, which fall under last year’s Planning and Development Act, “will go in under a new planning environment”.
A decision on the Galway ring road by An Coimisiún Pleanála is expected in “a couple of months”, according to Minister of State at the Department of Transport Seán Canney.
(Picture: CorkLimerick.ie)
