9 May 2012, 17:04
The wide variations between different county councils on the costs of road maintenance and current status of motorway construction will be among the key issues to be dealt with by the PAC when it meets with the Secretary General at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Chief Executive of the National Roads Authority tomorrow, 10th May.
Chairman of the Committee, John McGuinness said: “One of the key issues for the Committee will be the wide variation that exists between different county councils which get money each year to carry out road maintenance. A total of €411 million of exchequer funding that goes to the local authorities for construction and maintenance of local and regional roads.
The issue raised by the C&AG relates to the cost per square metre of maintaining a road.
For local roads the variation per square metre is between €2.72 in Cavan up to €11.53 in Sligo. For regional roads the variation is between €3.78 in Clare while the dearest again is Sligo at €10.87.
These cost variations are staggering suggests that better value for money could be had if the more expensive counties trimmed their costs. The Committee will be interested to know how scientific is the measurement and does it compare like with like? Do all Councils do this work themselves or is this surface dressing outsourced and if so is there any comparison between the costs of public versus private provision? Did the NRA or the Department ever raise the issue of the cost of surface dressing with the Sligo County Manager and the Chief Engineer for the County? Is the manpower cost factored into the price?”
The Committee will also be interested in getting an update on the status of motorway construction projects and will also examine the accounts of the NRA.
Deputy McGuinness said: “Clearly the downturn has meant a major scale back in developments and very few if any new schemes starting this year. As of now, the Committee will want to know how many construction projects are ongoing. With toll income down almost €6 million between 2009 and 2010, we will be interested to know what the figures for 2011 like and with the completion of major projects, what are construction payments likely to amount to in 2012?”
This meeting with the Secretary General of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the chief Executive of the National Roads Authority Fred Barry will take place at 10am tomorrow, Thursday, 10th May in Committee Room 1, Leinster House 2000.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at: http://bit.ly/24YmPI
Ends
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
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Committee of Public Accounts
Membership
John McGuinness (Chairman)
Kieran O’Donnell (Vice Chairman)
Paul J Connaughton,
John Deasy,
Paschal Donohoe,
Anne Ferris,
Simon Harris,
Michael McCarthy,
Mary Lou McDonald,
Sean Fleming,
Eoghan Murphy,
Derek Nolan,
Shane Ross