Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 5 Jul 2001

Vol. 540 No. 3

Written Answers. - Roads Funding.

John Bruton

Ceist:

207 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will direct the National Roads Authority not to impose tolls on major intercity routes. [20607/01]

I do not propose to issue such a direction.

The National Development Plan 2000-2006 envisages significant private sector investment in national road development: £1 billion of the £4.4 billion, 1999 prices, provided for national road improvements in the NDP is to be sourced from private finance through public private partnership financing.

In addition to the three pilot national roads projects already identified in the plan, the National Roads Authority has announced a further eight PPP schemes for the national roads network. The total construction costs of the 11 schemes is £1.2 billion or 1.5 billion and it is expected that these schemes will attract potential private finance of £700 million or 900 million based on user tolls.
Chapter 4 of the NRA's review 2000 and programme for 2001, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, sets out the key principles established by the NRA for its PPP programme. I am satisfied that these principles, together with the broader policy framework set out in the NDP in relation to public private partnerships, establish a satisfactory framework for the continued development of the NRA's PPP programme.
The Government has made clear in the NDP its plans for considerably greater use of public private partnerships in the implementation of the current national roads programme. That approach is now being taken forward by the NRA. I am confident that it will improve the efficiency and the speed of delivery of the national roads programme while at the same time ensuring public accountability.
Question No. 208 answered with Question No. 202.
Barr
Roinn