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Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 October 2012

Thursday, 18 October 2012

Questions (19, 28, 71)

Sean Conlan

Question:

19. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is in a position to provide any further funding to advance a study to narrow the route corridor of the proposed N2 A5 motorway project in County Monaghan between Clontibret and Moy Bridge between now and the end of 2015. [45241/12]

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Sean Conlan

Question:

28. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is in a position to provide any further capital funding between now and 2016 to advance the N2 section of the N2 A5 project, in particular that section of the project situated between Clontibret and Moy Bridge in County Monaghan. [45240/12]

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Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

71. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will put in place a time frame to release funds as soon as possible for the continuation of works on the A5 which is now costing considerable amounts everyday due to it being held up. [45136/12]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos.19, 28 and 71 together.

These questions relate to the N2 in the Republic of Ireland, in particular the section from Clontibret to the Northern Irish Border and the A5 in Northern Ireland.

As the Deputies will be aware, the previous Government gave a commitment to co-fund the construction of the A5 in Northern Ireland.  However, they made no provision to meet the costs of the A5 post-2012 in either the Four Year Plan or the Infrastructure Investment Priorities Plan 2010 to 2016.  Given that STG£400 million sterling was due to fall between 2013 and 2016 and given the current state of the Exchequer, it was not feasible to provide this level of funding in the coming years.

Therefore, at the NSMC Plenary meeting, on 8th November 2011, Ministers noted that the provision of further funding by the Irish Government for the A5 road was being deferred but that the Irish Government will provide STG£25m per annum in 2015 and 2016 towards the project.  At the subsequent June 2012 NSMC Plenary meeting, it was noted that the N.I. Executive had announced an investment package of major roads including two sections of the A5 project.  In addition, it was noted that the Irish Government remains committed to the completion of the co-funded A5 project which is of strategic importance to the North West Region and the island as a whole, but that the Government is not in a position to make funding commitments for the period post-2016 in advance of its consideration of the next capital review framework.  The NSMC plenary approved a funding implementation plan for the A5 project to the end of 2016 which incorporated the STG£50m committed by the Irish Government. The implementation of the project is a matter for the Northern Ireland Road Service. With regard to the N2 from Clontibret to the Border section of the road, this is a matter for the National Roads Authority. As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

Given budgetary constraints the NRA will have to operate within the allocations set in the capital expenditure framework for the period to 2016.  Within its capital allocation, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for the NRA in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.  Unfortunately funding limits mean that the Authority will not be in a position to progress a range of projects over the next number of years. In the case of this scheme, I understand that it is intended to bring to completion the Route Selection Phase later this year. However, due to the reduced funding available to the Authority under the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Plan 2012-2016, the Authority intends to suspend the scheme once the Route Selection Phase is completed. It is not expected that the NRA will be in a position to proceed to the Design Phase during the period to 2016.

 

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