Under the Government's recently published capital plan, 'Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021', the ratio between exchequer capital investment on roads infrastructure and public transport infrastructure between 2016 and 2022 (the transport element of the plan covering a 7-year period) is projected to be 1.6:1.
Decisions on the transport elements of the capital plan in the period to 2022 were framed by the conclusions reached in the Department's Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport. This report highlighted the importance of maintenance and renewal of transport infrastructure together with targeted investments to enhance the existing network through improving connections to seaports, to poorly served regions, to large-scale employment sites, and addressing critical safety issues.
Based on the findings in that report, maintenance and renewal of the road network will continue to be the main priority over the next period and the bulk of the roads capital budget under the new Capital Plan - over €4 billion - is earmarked for such essential work. Similarly, a large portion of the capital funding for Public Transport - €2.6 billion - will be required for investment in essential 'steady state' maintenance and asset renewal across the national public transport network.
The capital budget for Roads also includes a further €600 million allocated for implementation of the PPP road programme which is already underway. Where new road investments are proposed they are directed at addressing specific issues on the road network, for example, alleviating bottlenecks such as the Dunkettle roundabout and the Naas Bypass.
On Public Transport, a further €1 billion on top of the 'steady state' requirement of €2.6 billion, will be invested under the new Capital Plan to address growing congestion resulting from economic recovery and population growth.
