As Minister for Transport, Tourism and 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 Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. 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 provides that work will commence on several roads projects (including Mountcharles to Inver) which are targeted at removing critical bottlenecks or upgrading inadequate sections of road. In this context, TII is assessing how best to progress projects included in the 7 year transport element of the Capital Plan taking into account annual budget allocations. The timeframe for progressing individual projects will be decided once that process is completed.