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Road Funding Insufficient to Protect €31bn Network, Warns TII
🇮🇪 Ireland /Energy & Infrastructure

Road Funding Insufficient to Protect €31bn Network, Warns TII

From RTÉ News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Transport Infrastructure Ireland warns that current road funding is insufficient to maintain the nation's €31 billion road network.
  • The chief executive cited challenges including aging infrastructure, increased congestion, and climate adaptation needs.
  • Additional investment is required to effectively maintain the network and address resilience and climate change challenges.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has issued a stark warning: current funding levels are inadequate to protect Ireland's €31 billion road network. Lorcan O'Connor, TII's Chief Executive, informed the Oireachtas Committee on Transport that the money available is insufficient for renewing aging assets. He stressed the need for "steady and reasonable investment" to keep motorways, the railway network, and roads safe and usable.

insufficient

— Lorcan O'ConnorChief Executive of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, describing current road funding levels.

O'Connor highlighted that maintaining the roads network's asset value and improving efficiency and safety is a "challenging" task with the current funding. Consequently, maintenance programs are prioritized based on safety surveys and assessments. TII faces significant hurdles from aging infrastructure, rising congestion, and the necessity of climate adaptation measures.

steady and reasonable investment

— Lorcan O'ConnorStating the necessary investment for Ireland's road and rail networks.

The chief executive emphasized that additional funding is crucial to "effectively maintain the network and address the challenges of resilience and climate change." He pointed out that the review of the National Development Plan necessitates "important investment decisions" to ensure the State receives maximum value. Traffic on the M50 has surged by approximately 10% since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Luas services are also experiencing growing demand, with an estimated 60 million passengers expected in 2026. TII is planning timetable adjustments to accommodate this high demand.

challenging

— Lorcan O'ConnorDescribing the difficulty of maintaining the roads network's value and improving safety with current funding.

Separately, TII acknowledged a "level of concern" surrounding the Greenway program, particularly from farmers worried about compulsory purchase orders. TII is collaborating with the Department of Transport to address these issues. The department is reviewing its Greenway Strategy, which will involve consultations with local authorities and interest groups. TII will also revise its Code of Practice for Greenways to cover route selection, safety, accessibility, environmental stewardship, and user experience. Politicians noted that landowners feel "frustrated" and "not listened to" during the process.

effectively maintain the network and address the challenges of resilience and climate change

— Lorcan O'ConnorExplaining the need for additional funding.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by RTÉ News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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