Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021
130. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport the number of capital project contracts final accounts that have exceeded the tender value by more than 20% in each of the years 2010 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44815/20]
View answerAs Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII is, therefore, responsible for the distribution of funds under the Capital Programme for the implementation of the National Roads Programme in accordance with Project Ireland 2040, within the framework of the NDP. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals.
I also, as Minister for Transport, have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure. Many capital rail infrastructure projects are operational matter for Iarnród Éireann (IÉ).
Noting TII's responsibility in relation to the National Roads Programme and the responsibility of the NTA and IÉ in relation to public transport, I have referred the Deputy's question to them for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (RLR) 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 Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works is a matter for decision by the local authority.
Because of the major cutbacks in funding for regional and local roads during the post-2008 recession, the Strategic Grant Programme relating to significant regional and local road improvement projects was curtailed from 2013 until provision was made in the 2016 Capital Investment Plan to restart a modest programme. Schemes are being managed on a programme basis with phased implementation taking account of the profile of annual capital allocations.
Four RLR projects have been completed in the period 2010 to 2020 and the final cost of the construction contract for one of those projects exceeded the tender value by more than 20%. In the case of that project the uplift on the original tender price was 21%.
