Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 May 2017
1352. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a scheme (details supplied) can be included in the capital investment plan 2016 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19918/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Within its annual budget the planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. As indicated previously to the Deputy, the N2 was not included in the Capital Plan published in September 2015. Decisions on the transport elements of the Capital Plan were framed by the conclusions reached in my Department’s Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport. Based on the findings in that report it is envisaged that maintenance and renewal of the road network will continue to be the main priority over the next period and the bulk of the roads capital budget, approximately €4.4 billion, is earmarked for such essential work with a further €600 million allocated for implementation of the PPP road programme which is already underway. In this context the N2 scheme was one of a range of projects that it was not possible to include given the overall funding envelope available. As regards the possibility of funding as part of the Capital Plan Review, my Department is making a strong case for additional funding, including the development of a project pipeline for national road schemes. The final decisions on allocations are, however, matters for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and Government as a whole.
