Parking Charges

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2017

Tuesday, 7 November 2017

Ceisteanna (1080)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

1080. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated difference between average annual steady-state cost of national roads, regional and local roads, heavy rail, Luas and buses with regard to the integration initiative as estimated in a report (details supplied) and actual expenditure outlay by general Government and his Department in each of the years 2014 to 2017. [47036/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

In 2015, my Department published the Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport.  As part of the extensive preparatory work for this publication, 21 background papers were produced and one of these estimated the steady state funding requirement for our transport network, as detailed by the Deputy.  For ease of reference, I include those estimates as follows: 

Table 1: Estimated Annual Steady State Expenditure Requirement, 2014-2016 and Post-2016 (€m)

	Average Annual Cost   2014-2016	Average Annual Cost   Attributable to DTTaS 2014-2016	Average Annual Cost   post-2017	Average Annual Cost   Attributable to DTTaS post-2017
National Roads	585	481	573	469
RLR Roads	580	480	580	480
Heavy Rail	291	195	291	195
Luas	81	60	49	21
Buses	61	61	61	61
Integration	15	15	15	15
Total	1,613	1,292	1,569	1,241

Disaggregating expenditure into ‘steady state’ and ‘new projects’ is difficult and, to an extent, subjective.  However, on the basis of information available, below I include my Department’s best assessment of Departmental steady state expenditure from 2014 to 2017. Note that National Roads figures for 2016 and 2017 are not currently available.  However, I have referred the Deputy’s question to Transport Infrastructure Ireland for direct reply in relation to this area.  Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.

Table 2: Departmental Steady State Expenditure, 2014-2017 (€m)

	2014	2015	2016	2017*
National Roads	238	244
RLR Roads	323	292	354	286
Heavy Rail	176	173	134	159
Buses	85	48	30	64
Integration	18	19	13	9
Total	840	776	531	518

*Projected.

Finally, I include the shortfall between the estimated steady state requirement for each area and expenditure for the period from 2014 to 2017 below. 

Table 3: Steady State Expenditure Deficit, 2014-2017 (€m)

	2014	2015	2016	2017*	Total
National Roads	-243	-237			-480
RLR Roads	-157	-188	-126	-194	-665
Heavy Rail	-19	-22	-61	-36	-138
Buses	21	-13	-31	3	-20
Integration	3	4	-2	-6	-1
Total	-395	-456	-220	-233	-1,304

*Projected.

While this is not precisely the breakdown that the Deputy asked for, I hope it illustrates the point that Departmental spending has fallen short of the estimated steady state requirement for a number of years and a deficit has accumulated over the period.  While this underinvestment is understandable in light of the constrained fiscal context we are now emerging from, it is important to note that the most cost-effective way to protect our transport infrastructure – with a value running into the tens of billions – is to invest in it sufficiently on an ongoing basis to maintain the network in an adequate state. 

It is for this reason that I welcome the increased capital allocations for my Department from now until 2021 announced as part of Budget 2018.  Aside from the many exciting new initiatives that this funding will facilitate, the increased envelopes also mean, for example, that we will be investing the required level of steady state funding into our national, regional and local road network by 2020 or 2021 and at the same time as investing in other needed infrastructure.

The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.