2026-06-18

115. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on progress regarding approval of the completion of the final two stages of the Kilkenny ring road and the maintenance and upgrade of the existing sections of the same road. [46261/26]

On the completion of the next phase of the Kilkenny ring road, I am seeking to establish what stage the process is at, when it is likely to be approved and when the funding will be made available. I made a recommendation to the Minister, because funding is coming directly from the Department's budget, that the €50 million or so needed to cover the project should be set aside in lump sums each year in order that when the planning process is completed, the necessary funding will be in place.

I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister. In accordance with section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, as amended, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority. Work on such roads is funded from councils' resources, supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter in the first case for the local authority. Any new road projects in respect of which State funding is sought are assessed by our Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects proposed by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the infrastructure guidelines and the Department's transport appraisal framework. Given the limited funding available for regional and local road improvement works, it is important for each local authority to prioritise projects within these requirements. In the case of the Kilkenny city north transport project, the Kilkenny ring road, it aims to reduce city centre congestion and improve cross-river connectivity via a potential northern ring road extension. In January 2023, in line with Government requirements, Kilkenny County Council produced a strategic assessment report for the Kilkenny northern ring road extension and a draft was forwarded by our Department for review. Since then, both the public spending code and the Department’s transport appraisal framework guidance have been updated. In 2024, following the provision of funding from our Department, Kilkenny County Council submitted an updated project outline document, POD, for the Kilkenny city north transport project. While this process was underway, funding was also allocated for traffic and junction analysis in the Butts Green area of the city to further assess and better understand traffic patterns. In 2025, following a review of the POD by our Department, €200,000 was allocated to the Kilkenny northern transport project to allow Kilkenny County Council to progress it to phase 2, the options stage. This year, Kilkenny County Council appointed a design consultant to progress the options stage. An additional €300,000 was allocated by the Department of Transport, which will continue to liaise with Kilkenny County Council as the project progresses. For this year, €718 million was allocated through the regional and local roads grant programme for improvement and maintenance, with approximately 90% of this funding allocated to road maintenance and renewal. I will come back in with more information for Deputy McGuinness in a moment.

Just to be clear, there are two issues I am trying to address here. One is the completion of the next phase of the northern part of the ring road around Kilkenny. I ask the Department to liaise with Kilkenny County Council to proactively move that process and consideration forward so that we can get to the point of approval quickly. The completion of that section has been delayed for some time. I see no reason why we cannot look at the final phase of the project in order to ensure that there will be no time lost in completing the full northern extension of that ring road. The second point relates to the fact that TFI looked at the existing ring road and instructed the council to implement safety measures, which it has failed to do. I am asking if TFI will examine the matter again and come up with a more efficient plan.

Who has failed?

TFI has failed.

I will ask the NTA to liaise with Kilkenny County Council. As Deputy McGuinness knows, it is mainly the responsibility of Kilkenny County Council to decide its programme for road maintenance. On the safety issue, I will certainly ask the council to liaise and engage, particularly as safety is paramount. I know that Kilkenny County Council has received significant moneys for road protection and renewal works. It is certainly important that there is collaboration and both entities work together to ensure the existing sections of roads can be completed. In terms of the north ring road, there has been the appointment of a design consultant. I will ask our officials to liaise with council on the matter because it is important. I know it from Deputy McGuinness's ongoing advocacy and it is critical to the growth of Kilkenny and the area.

There are a lot of cooks in the kitchen in the context of all of this. Sometimes, too many of them can spoil the dish. I ask that there be some communication between all of those involved, namely Kilkenny County Council, the transport infrastructure people and those responsible for funding in order that the mess they have made of the Black Quarry roundabout might be addressed and to prevent traffic from backing up right along the ring road. There is still a problem with safety that should be addressed. I accept what the Minister of State said about the northern part of that ring road. I will work with Kilkenny County Council to ensure that we move quickly through the process. I again ask for the support of the Department as we do that.

As the Deputy will appreciate, I do not have information in respect of that issue. I will certainly ask about the Black Quarry roundabout and ask people to liaise with Deputy McGuinness on the matter. I take the point the Deputy makes that too many cooks spoil everything, but it is important Kilkenny County Council, as the lead agency, can liaise with other stakeholders. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Brien's officials to liaise with Deputy McGuinness.