Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 July 2014
227. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has received plans from Donegal County Council for a new bypass at Bonagee, Letterkenny, County Donegal; and if he will provide the funding for same. [30572/14]
View answerAs I indicated in my response of 26 June to Parliamentary Question No. 9 and of 15 May to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 22 and 49, 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 (such as a bypass at Bonagee) is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
The scale of the reductions in the allocations to the NRA under the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework 2012-2016, due to the economic situation, has meant that it has not been possible to progress a range of road development projects. The key priority has to be the protection of the existing investment in road infrastructure.
I understand that the preferred route has been selected on the proposed N56 Letterkenny Relief Road which encompasses the Bonagee Relief Road. However, given the reduced level of funding available for major schemes such as this, it has not been possible for the NRA to provide any additional funding to enable the scheme to progress further. As the Deputy is aware the estimated cost of the total project is €45 million. Given the size of the project, it cannot be funded through a PPP model but rather must be funded by direct Exchequer funding. In that context €45 million is a very major commitment from central government given the state of the public finances.
The Government's Comprehensive Review of Expenditure 2015-2017 and Capital Review 2015-2019 have commenced. The Current and Capital Reviews will consider new ways of achieving Government objectives in the current tight fiscal climate, including the extent to which funding will be available for the maintenance and development of the road network. I cannot say at this point what the outcome of the Comprehensive Review and of the Capital Review process will be. As the Deputy will appreciate, I will have to prioritise the maintenance and upkeep of existing infrastructure and the scope for progressing new projects under this programme will very much depend on the level of funding available.
