Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
1735. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of An Bord Pleanála's approval of the M7 Oberstown interchange and R407 Sallins bypass scheme, motorway order 2013, and the M7 Naas Newbridge upgrade scheme, motorway order 2013, when funding is likely to be allocated to enable each of the schemes to proceed. [34729/14]
View answerAs 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. Within its capital budget, 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.
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
The Government’s Comprehensive Review of Expenditure 2015-2017 and Capital Review 2015-2019 are underway. At this point I cannot say what the outcome of the Review process will be. As the Deputy will appreciate, the scope for allocating funding to projects such as these will depend on the amount of funding in my Department's capital budget in future years.
