Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2017
1842. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of designing and building the M20 motorway; and if transport agencies have explored the feasibility of building the motorway via a concessions PPP agreement. [27380/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
As the Deputy is aware, the Capital Plan published in September 2015 outlined proposed transport investment priorities to 2022. While the transport element of the Capital Plan did provide for some targeted investment in a number of new projects in the Munster region, it was not possible to include the M20 in the Capital Plan as the scale of investment to deliver it was not affordable.
TII is undertaking some early activity surveys/studies on the upgrade of the road link between Cork and Limerick and there has been some engagement, at the request of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, on options for funding such a link. The scope for progressing the project further will be reviewed once the Capital Plan Review is completed. In this context any consideration of options for implementation of the project by way of PPP would have to be within a PPP policy framework as set by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
As regards the estimated cost of an upgrade of the Cork to Limerick road link, I have referred the Question to TII for direct reply. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days please notify my Office.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
