Funding of €26m for Meath and €10m for Louth has been announced today for regional and local roads in the two counties as part of a €626 million national investment programme for 2023 announced today by Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan T.D. and Minister of State Jack Chambers T.D.
The funding package will allow approximately 3,100kms of regional and local roads to be maintained and 2,550kms to be strengthened.
Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan said: “Our main priority in 2023 continues to be the protection and renewal of the existing regional and local road network because that is the one thing you don’t curtail. It makes more sense to protect and repair our roads quickly rather than letting them fall into more expensive disrepair.”
Provision of €44 million has been made available in 2023 for regional and local road strategic road improvement projects, including projects identified for development under the National Development Plan. Six NDP projects have been completed to date and the following NDP projects are currently at construction stage and incorporate elements of active travel. These include:
Funding of €26 million is also being provided under the Specific Grant category for smaller scale road improvements. These grants comprise a mix of schemes, including bridgeworks, measures to improve safety, such as junction reconfiguration, together with schemes to alleviate traffic congestion in towns and improve access to centres of education, businesses and public transport such as the Edenderry Relief Road, County Offaly and Rice Bridge Rehabilitation, Waterford City.
Drogheda Fine Gael TD Fergus O’Dowd said he very much welcomed the allocations which will make a significant difference including:
- €1m for Obelisk Bridge, Drogheda.
- €130,000 Marsh Road, Drogheda.
- €1.4m Bettystown to Laytown Link Road.
- €75,000 Julianstown
- €72,500 R152 R150 Junction, Julianstown Road Duleek
Louth Fianna Faìil Senator Erin McGreehan also welcomed the €10,072,400 for regional and local roads in Louth.
“These roads play a crucial role in Ireland’s economy and serve as valuable assets for communities. In Ireland, there are 94,000 kilometres of regional and local roads, which make up 94% of the country’s road network. These roads carry approximately 55% of all traffic, and for many local businesses, they are the only means of accessing customers” she said.
“Improving and maintaining our road network is essential to the sustained development of local economies in rural Ireland. These roads are critical for children getting to school and people travelling to work safely. Rural regeneration is a top priority for the government, and this investment programme for 2023 is further proof of that commitment.”
