Road Network
Seanad Éireann — 2026-01-20
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Jerry Buttimer (FG), Cork South-Central

Ar an gcéad dul síos, déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Seanadóir Kyne as ucht na ceiste agus an ráitis seo mar gheall ar thábhacht an bhóthair N59, go háirithe an sliocht idir Bun an Choill agus Claremount, Uachtar Ard. Go n-éirí leis as ucht na hoibre. Bhí sé an-tábhachtach sa tionscadal a bhí an Roinn Iompair ag déanamh mar gheall ar an obair atá déanta.
I thank the Senator for his work, advocacy, tireless campaigning and delivery of significant improvements in respect of the N59. It is fair to say that without him, those improvements would never have happened. He is right. This is a very important matter relating to the quality of life of people who rely on the N59.
The Minister for Transport has responsibility for the overall policy relating to and the Exchequer funding for the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with TII under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015, and in line with the national development plan, NDP, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII. The Department is waiting for TII to present its budget for this year. The Estimates process has been completed. TII will ultimately deliver the national roads programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and the NDP.
It is important to point out that a number of major national roads projects have already been delivered under the current NDP, including the N5 from Westport to Turlough and, in my county of Cork, the N22 from Ballyvourney to Macroom. The Senator articulated a number of significant improvements on the N59. Progress to date has been quite good.
Approximately €502 million in Exchequer funding was provided through TII to local authorities for national roads last year. We are awaiting the imminent publication of this year's roads allocation. This is used for the construction of major new projects as well as the protection and renewal of the existing network. Almost €10 million of this funding was allocated to Galway County Council. The allocations for this year will be made in the coming weeks.
A major priority in the NDP, in line with the Department's investment hierarchy, is to maintain the quality and safety of the existing national road network, which includes funding for minor improvements; safety schemes, such as junction upgrades and road realignment; and paving renewal.
I am very much aware of the status of the N59 as a lifeline road, as identified by TII in its national road strategy for the period to 2040. Like other lifeline roads, it is in a rural area with complex topography and few alternative routes. The Senator outlined succinctly the issue with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The N59 plays a vital role in connecting the rural communities of Connemara to Galway city. In that regard, I am happy to note the completion of the Moycullen bypass in recent years, which has improved the quality of life for the people of Moycullen, in addition to ensuring better connectivity between Galway, Oughterard and Clifden.
With regard to the N59 between Bunnakill and Claremount, I can confirm the project received an allocation of €100,000 last year. Galway County Council, supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Inland Fisheries Ireland, is progressing a solution in relation to a planning condition with respect to the approval of method statements outlining how the project will comply with the condition. As part of this work, a section 146B application was submitted by Galway County Council to An Coimisiún Pleanála on 30 October last year seeking alterations to the planning conditions for the project. A decision is due, we are told, in the coming weeks. Subject to An Coimisiún Pleanála's approval of the application, it is the intention of Galway County Council to commence advance works for the project, such as the archaeological investigation contract, this year.
I hope the Senator finds the information useful. I will pass his concerns back to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. I am sure we will work together to advance the project.

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Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted.

Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-01-20/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:31+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-20