The government has committed to variable speed limits on Dublin's M50 as part of Budget 2021.
It means sections of the motorway could be reduced from the current 100 kilometre per hour limit.
The Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe delivered a €17.7bn budget for 2021 this afternoon, the biggest budget in the history of the State.
The overall budget allocation to the Department of Transport comes to €3.5bn.
A number of road projects are committed to in the budget with around €1.3bn allocated for national, regional and local roads.
Funds of €799m will be allocated for 2021 for maintenance and renewal programmes on national roads.
Works are also due to take place at Cork's Dunkettle Interchange, as well plans to "enhance motorway operations" on the M50 through variable speed limits.
Funds of €584m have also be allocated for regional and local road works next year.
The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, and Transport Eamon Ryan said Budget 2021 would allow for the development of a sustainable transport system.
He said: "It will ensure that our transport network continues to grow sustainably into the future, providing our citizens with viable and affordable transport alternatives, while also working to meet our climate and environmental objectives.
"We will now be heavily investing in more sustainable transport projects than roads projects.
"This shift in budgetary allocation will rebalance our transport network so we are providing viable travel options for years to come."
Main image: File photo of traffic on the M50 in Dublin. Credit: Brian Lawless/PA Wire/PA Images
