Over €18.2M allocated for Meath’s National Roads and Greenways in 2024

Local Fianna Fáil TD and Minister Thomas Byrne has welcomed this year's allocation of over €18.2 million for National Roads and Greenways across county Meath

The funding was announced today as part of a total of over €440 million allocated to National Roads and Greenways nationwide. The allocations will be made to local authorities across the country through Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

Minister Byrne said:

“The substantial new funding allocated today is hugely important for National Roads and Greenways here in Meath. The funding is part of the government’s investment in improving our national roads and greenways infrastructure. It will help ensure that our roads are safe, reliable and accessible for everyone who uses them.

“A top priority of Fianna Fáil in Government is continuing to invest in the maintenance and improvement of our road network to make it as safe as possible while improving regional connectivity and supporting regional economic development.

“Locally, the road (N51) from Slane village to the Louth county boundary on the edge of Drogheda will be fully resurfaced and likewise the road (N52) Woodtown to the Louth county boundary near Ardee will also be fully resurfaced, with nearly €9 million being set aside for these two projects. These are some of the most used routes in Meath and rightly deserve this investment.

“There has also been renewed investment in our local Greenways namely the Boyne Valley to Kingscourt greenway and the Boyne Greenway. This funding will enable further enhancements and parking facilities along the routes.

“I am also pleased that the boardwalk along the River Boyne which was severally damaged by fire in 2018 has received an allocation of €340,000 to be restored and renewed.

“Continued investment in Greenways is welcome, as they protect important habitats and provide corridors for people and wildlife. They help improve air and water quality and provide enjoyable and safe options for transportation, which reduces air pollution, so it is important they continue to receive appropriate investment” concluded Minister Byrne.

Fine Gael Cllr Paddy Meade also welcomed the news.

"Today is a very big day for Meath county council as we receive €18.2 million from the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII)," he said.

"This money is mainly for big projects and will include the upgrade of the road from Slane to Drogheda, the road from Lobinstown to Ardee and there is money allocated for the new road from woodtown to Cassidy's cross on the Kells road as well as a number of other big roads throughout the county.

"There are big allocations on the greenways, be it the Boyne Valley greenway, the Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway as well as a number of big projects.

"This follows on from last weeks discussions where many of the district councils passed their local budgets with allocations for roads to be upgraded throughout the county.

"We still require more money for the maintenance of rural roads and rural roads and rural gritting will remain a front issue for myself and many of the more rural councillors. it is important that the rural roads in Meath are not forgotten about.