Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021
271. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has provided an assessment or a business case to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in respect of the case for a funding allocation to resource the planned Drogheda northern port access route in the forthcoming revised National Development Plan 2018-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46829/21]
View answer272. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will commit to funding the Drogheda northern port access route in view of his stated policy commitment to providing for town by-passes to allow for urban centres to reduce traffic and regenerate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46830/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 271 and 272 together.
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
The extent of the cutbacks in grant funding during the post 2008 recession meant that grant funding for road improvement schemes had to be curtailed because expenditure on maintenance/renewal was falling well short of what was required to adequately maintain the regional and local road network.
Under the National Development Plan (NDP), as it stands, there has been a significant increase in Exchequer funding for regional and local roads, particularly in the last four years. Funding is not yet at the level needed for the adequate protection and renewal of regional and local roads and so for this reason, the primary focus for capital investment continues to be the protection and renewal of the network with some limited investment in road improvement projects.
Any road improvement projects proposed by local authorities for consideration for funding are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects put forward by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the Public Spending Code (PSC) and my Department's Capital Appraisal Framework (CAF).
It is my understanding that Louth County Council sought funding for the proposed Port Access Northern Cross Route (PANCR) under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) which is administered by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (DHPLG). There was some discussion between Louth County Council and my Department this year regarding the project appraisal process if the scheme were to be submitted to my Department for consideration. To date no formal application has been received by this Department from Louth County Council in relation to the proposed PANCR and my Department has not had any engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the scheme.
