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 national road projects (including the N7) is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with Kildare County Council. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
As you are aware, the transport element of the Capital Plan 2015-2022 provides that work will commence on several roads projects which are targeted at removing critical bottlenecks or upgrading inadequate sections of road including the M7 Naas-Newbridge/Osberstown/Sallins road scheme.
In this context, TII will be drawing up an implementation programme in relation to the projects included in the 7 year Capital Plan taking into account annual budget allocations. The time frame for progressing individual projects will be decided once that programme is in place.
