Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 July 2015
290. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); if he will grant the meeting sought with him with representatives of North Kildare Chamber; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26534/15]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads such as the M7 Bypass Upgrade, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. The Osberstown interchange and Sallins bypass fall within the remit of Kildare County Council. Works on these roads are funded from the local authority's own resources, supplemented by funding made available by the State.
I am very much aware of the importance of these projects both locally and nationally. Unfortunately, the financial realities are that capital funding will continue to be tight for the next number of years limiting the scope for progressing additional new projects over and above the PPP programme already in place.
I know that it is important to restore over time capital funding for the transport sector to ensure that land transport infrastructure is maintained, and renewed to support economic development. While I have, I hope, stabilised the funding position, the scope for any new improvement projects depends on the availability of additional capital funding in the future. Once the new capital plan is published I will assess what can be done to address particular bottlenecks.
Requests for meetings should be made directly to the Diary Team of my private office.
