2009 National Roads Allocation

The 2009 National Roads Allocation has not been affected by the supplementary budget. The total allocation for 2009 is €1.44bn, compared with €1.68bn in 2008. Given the economic and budgetary situation, the relatively high allocation to national road investment clearly indicates an intention to maintain investment in road infrastructure. This reflects the stated government commitment to maintain a high level of investment in infrastructure.

 The main points of relevance for the Western Region from the allocations are:

• In 2009, the NRA is due to complete eight national road schemes.  One of these is in the region, Athlone-Ballinasloe, which is part of the M6 major inter urban route to Galway.
• Construction will continue throughout 2009 on a range of schemes which are already underway.  Three of these are in the region, the N6 Galway-Ballinasloe, N18 Gort-Crusheen and N21 Castleisland Bypass.
• The NRA completed eight schemes in 2008.  None of these were within the Western Region however one was of relevance to the region, M6 Kilbeggan-Athlone.

While not included in the documentation for the allocations, the NRA has confirmed that the N18 Gort-Oranmore, N17 Galway-Tuam and N17 Tuam bypass projects have now been combined into a single 53km project that will be dual-carriageway or motorway. Galway County Council has received 2009 funding to progress with planning, design and land acquisition.  The NRA has stated that the next phase of development depends on future funding.

There are a number of other national road schemes within the Western Region that are at various stages of the planning process but are not referred to in this announcement. These include the N4 Cloonmahon-Castlebaldwin, N5 Ballaghaderreen bypass, N26 Ballina-Bohola Phase II, N5 Westport-Castlebar, N17 Coolloney-Charlestown and the N6 Galway City Outer bypass.