As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its capital budget, therefore, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter for the NRA. However, it is important to stress that the NRA is not responsible for planning restrictions along proposed new routes for roads, rather any such restrictions are a matter for the relevant local authority in their capacity as the relevant planning authority.
It is the case, in the context of the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework 2012-2016, that there will be limited scope to progress new road development projects in the short to medium term and that there are projects which have reached route corridor selection phase but which will not progress to construction for some time. As I have indicated previously I am reluctant to cancel such projects given that they are designed for their long term benefit to the State although I am conscious of the potential implications for development in the area.
Just because it is unlikely that a transport infrastructure project will be progressed in the short to medium term does not mean that project should be cancelled, and protections for the route be removed by the relevant planning authorities. For example, in the case of the Harcourt Luas Line and the M50, there were significant passages of time between initial reservations being made and construction commencing on those projects. Therefore, I think it best that the decision on such matters is made by the relevant local authorities in their capacity as planning authorities. They are in the best position to assess how best to balance development needs in the area with protecting route corridors for future road or other transport upgrades.
