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 on the national road network is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. In this context, the NRA monitors traffic flows across the national road network and maps and collates collision data on national roads.
A substantial upgrade of the M50 was completed in 2010. This resulted in the addition of a third lane in both directions from the M1 to Sandyford and a fourth auxiliary lane in places together with the development of freeflow junctions and the introduction of barrier free tolling. This major investment has significantly enhanced the capacity of the motorway. I would also remind the House of the substantial upgrade at Newlands Cross, which allows for a continuous, free-flowing route between the M50 and the cities of Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Kilkenny. There are no proposals at present for further investment in additional capacity.
As outlined to the Deputy in my responses to PQ 10526/15 of 10 March and PQ 6220/15 of 11 February, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads such as the Osberstown Interchange and Sallins Bypass is the statutory responsibility of each local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. The available funds simply do not match the amount of work that needs to be done to maintain existing road infrastructure or address demands for new road improvement projects.
