Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has welcomed the reinstatement of the long-awaited N11/M11 upgrade in the National Development Plan (NDP), but said the project should never have been dropped in the first place — a decision that has now pushed the project back by at least three years. He also said that investment for public transport needs to be similarly prioritised.
Teachta Brady said:
“Over the last three years I have campaigned to get funding for the upgrade of the N11/M11 reinstated, so the reinstatement of the project in the National Development Plan is a positive and absolutely necessary step, but the Government’s past decision to strip funding from this vital project was reckless and deeply damaging. It should never have happened. Communities across Wicklow are now paying the price for that mistake, with the entire project being pushed back by at least three years.
“When the Government pulled funding in 2022, it did so in the face of clear and repeated warnings from the Road Safety Authority and despite significant population growth right across the county. I said at the time that the decision would have real consequences — and unfortunately, that is exactly what has happened. Commuters have been left stuck in daily gridlock because of an ideological decision to halt progress.
“Every single day, the tailbacks on the N11/M11 are getting worse. The congestion is now undermining quality of life, damaging economic potential, and putting enormous pressure on people who are forced to commute long distances for work and education. This road is one of the most important pieces of infrastructure serving Wicklow and the wider region. Delaying it has been nothing short of irresponsible.
“While the N11/M11 upgrade is critical, road improvements alone will not solve the congestion crisis. We also need significant investment in efficient, reliable, and affordable public transport – better bus and rail links must form a core part of the solution, so that people have real alternatives to sitting in traffic for hours every week. The extension of the DART to Wicklow Town is critical and delivery of it must be prioritised and deadlines for delivery must be adhered to.
“The fact that the N11/M11 project is now back in the NDP is welcome, but reinstatement alone is not enough. The Government must now ensure that the necessary funding is delivered and that a clear, credible timeline is set out to deliver the upgrade.
“As we move forward with this project, it is also absolutely essential that the Glen of the Downs Nature Reserve is fully protected. Any upgrade must be delivered in a way that safeguards its unique environmental and ecological value, and proper environmental protections must be included in every stage of the project.
“This N11/M11 upgrade is essential. It should never have been dropped, and the years lost cannot be handed back to the people of Wicklow. Now that it has finally been reinstated, the Government must move with urgency and ensure that this time, the upgrade is delivered.” Ends