Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 November 2012
136. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the discussions for the proposed Public Private Partnership of the M17/M18 motorway from Gort to Tuam, County Galway, announced in the recent stimulus package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51427/12]
View answer147. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update in the proposed N17/N18 Gort to Tuam road, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52656/12]
View answer156. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam road, County Galway, as promised in the stimulus plan will be given a starting date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52657/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 136, 147 and 156 together.
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.
The Gort-Tuam PPP projects is one of a number of road projects identified in the Government's Financial Stimulus Package. As the Investment and Capital Expenditure Framework 2012-2016 did not include a financial provision for this project, an additional multi-annual allocation is required to cover the Exchequer element of the project costs. As the allocation of such funds is related to the planned sale of State assets, clarification has been sought from the Department of Public Expenditure on the timelines involved. Once appropriate funding arrangements are put in place, the NRA will be in a position to prepare the project implementation schedule.
