The Irish Cabinet has approved a plan for significant road improvements in Donegal, targeting three key sections of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). These upgrades promise a highly positive Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of 2.61 to 4.73, according to preliminary assessments.
If the project passes all necessary stages, it will be funded through the Department of Transport’s future capital allocations under the National Development Plan.
The Donegal TEN-T Project originated from the 2015 Trans-European Transport Network Corridor Needs Study, which assessed the condition of TEN-T routes in Donegal. The study identified three sections in need of improvement:
- N15/N13 Ballybofey/Stranorlar Urban Region
- N56/N13 Letterkenny to Manorcunningham
- N14 Manorcunningham to Lifford/Strabane/A5 Link
These sections were subsequently included in the National Development Plan.
Donegal County Council submitted a Preliminary Business Case (PBC) for the project to the Department of Transport in June 2023. The project was also presented to the Major Projects Advisory Group (MPAG) of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery, and Reform on June 25, 2024.
The Donegal TEN-T Project aims to enhance these critical sections of the national road network, forming the TEN-T Priority Route Improvement Project (PRIP).