Spend on new public transport vs road projects still above 2:1, minister says

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

The Government will spend more than double on public transport than road projects in its term, the Transport Minister has said.

Darragh O’Brien said a 2:1 ratio on public transport versus new road projects is still being maintained, even though it is not explicitly mentioned in the latest review of the National Development Plan (NDP).

The ratio had been a feature of the Programme for Government of the previous coalition involving the Green Party – but the rule is not referenced in the NDP.

The NDP’s sectoral investment plan for transport, which was published in November, outlines €10.1 billion in funding allocations for public transport between 2026-2030, excluding €2 billion in the Infrastructure, Nature and Climate Fund – while €9.7 billion was allocated for road networks and road safety.

As these overall metrics approach a 1:1 ratio, the Green Party said the old rule had been scrapped and that the Government’s public transport investment was approaching “near parity” with spending on roads.

However, O’Brien said the 2:1 ratio is exceeded when the old coalition’s standard of “new public transport infrastructure and new roads over its lifetime” is applied.

He told reporters on Tuesday: “There was charges made by, in particular (Green Party leader) Roderic O’Gorman, who was in the last government, actually saying that the ratio was less than 2:1; it wasn’t.

“The ratio is more than 2:1 new public transport projects versus roads.”

The minister said the Government was operating a ratio of “about 2.3-2.4:1”.

O’Brien was speaking at a press conference where he announced the details of a €1.5 billion allocation for national, regional and local roads.

This is broken down as €800 million for national roads and €718 million for regional roads.

The funding will progress new national road projects identified in the NDP, including the Adare Bypass, N5 Ballaghaderreen-Scramoge, and M28 Cork-Ringaskiddy.

Asked if the Adare Bypass will be completed before the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Limerick in September 2027, Minister of State for Road Safety Seán Canney said: “Sufficient funds have been put in place to make sure that the bypass is completed and we’re ready.”

The projects also include €16.5 million for almost 300 climate resilience measures.

Referencing recent flooding in the east of the country, O’Brien said: “Government is committed to assisting affected local authorities with financial support to assist with the aftermath of Storm Chandra.

“My department is liaising with affected counties, who are continuing to compile and assess damage on the ground to enable proper estimation of the total damage caused and the estimated cost of remediation.”