Written Answers Nos. 333-351
333. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation from the Exchequer and from other sources under the capital plan to the Sallins bypass project; the amount that has been spent to date; the expected completion date; the estimated capital cost to finishing the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17379/17]
View answer336. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation from the Exchequer and from other sources under the capital plan to the Garavogue River road project in County Sligo; the amount that has been spent to date; the expected completion date; the estimated capital cost of finishing the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17382/17]
View answer337. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation from the Exchequer and from other sources under the capital plan to the Grange Castle business park upgrade; the amount that has been spent to date; the expected completion date; the estimated capital cost of finishing the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17383/17]
View answer341. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation from the Exchequer and from other sources under the capital plan to the Shannon crossing bridge at Killaloe; the amount that has been spent to date; the expected completion date; the estimated capital cost of finishing the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17387/17]
View answer348. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation from the Exchequer and from other sources under the capital plan to the Athy southern distributor road; the amount that has been spent to date; the expected completion date; the estimated capital cost of finishing the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17394/17]
View answer349. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation from the Exchequer and from other sources under the capital plan to the Portlaoise southern distributor road; the amount that has been spent to date; the expected completion date; the estimated capital cost of finishing the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17395/17]
View answer350. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation from the Exchequer and from other sources under the capital plan to phase 4 of the Dingle relief road; the amount that has been spent to date; the expected completion date; the estimated capital cost of finishing the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17396/17]
View answer351. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation from the Exchequer and from other sources under the capital plan to the Laytown to Bettystown link road; the amount that has been spent to date; the expected completion date; the estimated capital cost to finishing the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17397/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 333, 336, 337, 341 and 348 to 351, inclusive, together.
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. Implementation of the regional and local road improvement projects included in the Capital Plan is, therefore, the responsibility of the relevant local authority.
The eight regional and local road improvement projects mentioned by the Deputy are included in the Capital Plan. As it will be some years before funding under the Capital Plan builds up to the level required to maintain the regional and local road network in a steady state condition, expenditure continues to be primarily directed towards maintenance and renewal work. This means that the Capital Plan upgrade projects have to be implemented on a phased basis as budgets allow and as necessary project appraisal and planning consents are obtained by the relevant local authorities. Overall over €140 million of Capital Plan funding has been earmarked for implementation of these projects, the construction of which will be subject to a competitive tender process.
The project which is most advanced is the Sallins Bypass. It has been agreed that, in the interest of economies of scale and delivery efficiency, the main design and construction elements of the Naas Bypass widening Scheme, Osberstown Interchange and Sallins Bypass Schemes are to be progressed as one construction contract. This contract is at tender at present and Kildare County Council is the contracting authority. Subject to the satisfactory outcome of the tender process, these projects are expected to be completed on a phased basis over 2019 and 2020.
It is also anticipated that the construction of the road upgrades in the vicinity of GrangeCastle Business Park will go ahead this year once the procurement process is completed. South Dublin County Council is the contracting authority.
The other projects will be progressed as the necessary project and planning consents are obtained and as funding can be made available by my Department. I can assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to these projects and will be making funding available over the capital plan period to meet the State's commitments in relation to these schemes.
As regards expenditure to date and the 2017 allocations for these projects, this information is included in the Regional and Local Roads Payment and Allocations Booklets which are available in the Dáil library.
338. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cash flow per year spent to date from the Exchequer under the capital plan on the N17/18 Gort-Tuam PPP; the completion date of the project; the annual cash flow from the Exchequer to the end of the PPP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17384/17]
View answer339. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cash flow per year spent to date from the exchequer under the capital plan on the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy PPP; the completion date of the project; the annual cash flow from the exchequer to the end of the PPP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17385/17]
View answer340. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cash flow per year spent to date from the Exchequer under the capital plan on the N25 New Ross Bypass PPP; the completion date of the project; the annual cash flow from the Exchequer to the end of the PPP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17386/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 338 to 340, inclusive, together.
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 national road schemes, including Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects, is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 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 TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's questions to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
