Ireland has announced €100m in funding for new road safety and upgrade projects to improve accident blackspots on roads across the country this year.

Irish Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar said: "In a number of cases, the funding will be used to remove bottlenecks and tackle congestion. Given that exchequer funding is currently so limited, my main priority this year is to maintain roads and prioritise safety projects, followed by road improvements, and finally by new projects."

The upgrade works will be carried out under the National Road Authority’s (NRA) Work Programme for 2012 and should support 1,200 jobs.

Work will start on 30 selected schemes this year, with a further 30 projects identified through the planning process, although works will start on these when funding for the projects is met.

Various other small-scale projects are scheduled to start in the months ahead, these involve new road surfaces, minor safety works and improved signage. €18m has been allocated to these smaller schemes, with another €18m allocated for remedial works on bridges.

Construction is expected to start in 2012 on the N5 Ballaghaderreen Bypass, Co. Roscommon, the N7 Newlands Cross upgrade in South Dublin; and the N11 Arklow to Rathnew in Co. Wicklow.

Work will also continue this year on the N3 Belturbet Bypass in Co. Cavan; the N4 Downs Grade Separation in Co. Westmeath; the N5 Longford Bypass in Co. Longford; the N22/N69 Tralee Bypass; the N25 Cork South Ring Road Grade Separation in Cork City Council; and the N52 Carrickbridge to Dalystown in Co. Westmeath.

NRA CEO Fred Barry said: "We are delighted that even during these constrained times we will be able to carry out essential local improvements and tackle some of the worst safety challenges on the legacy road network."