Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 May 2017
1356. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has received a submission from Monaghan County Council (details supplied); the specific projects that he plans for County Monaghan arising from the mid term review of the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Plan 2016 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19969/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1357. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the national primary and secondary network; the specific projects that he plans for County Cavan arising from the mid-term review of the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Plan 2016 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19970/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1358. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if specific funding will be provided to the National Roads Authority in respect of the necessary upgrading of a road which carries a heavy volume of traffic and is inadequate at present for such a level of traffic (details supplied); if this project will be included in the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Plan 2016 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19971/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1359. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided in the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Plan 2016 to 2021 to enable Transport Infrastructure Ireland to progress a proposed road project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19972/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1356 to 1359, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy is aware, decisions on the transport elements of the Capital Plan 2016-2021 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 under way. In this context it was not possible to include a range of projects in the Plan given the overall funding envelope available.
As regards the possibility of additional funding within the Plan period, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is now commencing the Capital Plan review and has indicated that the additional capital funding for allocation totals €2.6 billion. A number of local authorities (including Monaghan County Council) have made submissions to my Department outlining the case for funding for roads and my Department is making a strong case for additional funding, including the development of a project pipeline for road schemes. While there is a strong case for additional funding for the transport sector, there are a multitude of possible national, regional and local projects around the country, the cost of which far exceed available funding and unfortunately, this means that only a limited number can be put forward for funding.
The final decisions on allocations are, however, matters for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and Government as a whole.
