As Minister for Transport, Tourism and 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 contract for the N17/N18 Gort Tuam PPP was signed on 30th April 2014 and I will be attending the project sod turning on the 9th May 2014. I understand that the expected construction timescale for this project is 3.5 years and the project is expected to be completed in 2018.