Multi-annual funding for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) is needed to provide certainty on essential roads projects, a Fine Gael Councillor has said.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) chief executive Peter Walsh this week warned that key transport infrastructure projects, including the M20 Cork to Limerick motorway, could face significant delays because of issues around funding allocation.
Cllr John Paul O’Shea, Fine Gael’s General Election candidate in Cork North West, said: “In my own area, people are worried about the progression of projects such as the M20 Cork-Limerick motorway and the N72 Mallow Relief Road. These are projects which have already caused frustration because of their slow progression to date.
“Businesses, commuters, and tourists in Cork are all heavily reliant on having an efficient road network.
“Multi-annual funding is provided in many instances by Government to provide for long-term stability, most recently to RTÉ. There is no logical explan-ation as to why it shouldn’t be allocated to such critical infrastructure projects. We cannot allow a situation to develop where we are forced to choose between projects, or where large projects are being consistently put on the long finger because the department didn’t adequately fund TII.
“Business groups have also expressed their fears that a failure to swiftly progress roads projects could have a detrimental impact on businesses and livelihoods.
“There are numerous projects contained in the latter half of the National Development Plan, the planning of which needs to begin urgently.
“There have been far too many fatalities and tragedies on our roads over the last number of years, and adequately funding our road network is an investment in road safety.
“I am calling on Minister Eamon Ryan to commit to providing multi-annual funding to TII. With our population continuing to grow rapidly, we are going to need reliable road networks, adequate public transport provision, and active travel routes to ensure continued economic growth, regional con-nectivity, and road safety,” Cllr. O’Shea concluded.