Eamon Scanlon
Ceist:41. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the completion of the western distributor route. [22879/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 12 June 2018
Ceisteanna (41)
Freagraí ó Béal (6 píosaí cainte)
I welcome the Minister's answer to a previous question on the N4 and the stretch of road from Castlebaldwin to Collooney. I recognise the fact that he is committed to the project and we are all looking forward to work on the road starting, hopefully at the end of this year. Given the number of fatalities on this stretch of road, on which 27 people have been killed over the past number of years, this very important.
This question relates to the western distributor route, which is crucial to the development of Sligo and its environs. The IDA needs the road to serve 70 acres of land it owns in order that it can progress factories on that parcel of land for companies to move in very soon and create jobs.
I am grateful to Deputy Scanlon for raising this matter. The news is encouraging. The maintenance and improvement of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant road authority under section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the local authority's own resources, supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
While the construction of the western distributor road was not included in the original Building on Recovery capital plan, nevertheless my Department facilitated the development of the project by providing grant assistance for the project planning and design over a number of years.
As for the construction phase of the project, my Department made a strong case for additional funding under the capital plan review and, following the conclusion of the review in 2017, significant extra funding was allocated to my Department in the period to 2021. I was, therefore, very glad to be able to commit grant funding for the construction phase of the distributor road.
Sligo County Council, as the statutory road authority, is responsible for implementation of the distributor road scheme which is, I understand, at land acquisition stage. The council is required to comply with the requirements of the public spending code, the Department’s capital appraisal framework and the memorandum relating to the provision of grants for regional and local roads. In this context, during 2017, approval was given to the council to proceed with the detailed design of the scheme and the preparation of contract documents. In addition, approval was given to the council to proceed with an advance works contract for fencing and site clearance. I understand that the fencing work is now substantially complete.
Grant funding of €800,000 has been allocated to the scheme this year. The project tender documentation has been finalised and was submitted to my Department for review in mid-April. Approval has recently been given to the council to invite tenders for the main construction contract.
I welcome the fact that approval has been given because it is crucial for the region for the road to be put in place to facilitate the building of factories.
There is a greater chance of getting companies when buildings are available than when there is no building for them to move into. I welcome the fact that the funding is in place. I am sure the county council has been informed and that it will progress the project as fast as possible.
This is a happier story than some of the others we have had today. I am glad to be able to welcome it as well. It is important we take note of not only the views of the local authority and ourselves and our own examination but also the views of the Industrial Development Authority, IDA. The development of this land was regarded as essential to enable the IDA to attract foreign direct investment, FDI, to the Sligo region. That is a significant fact, not forgetting as well that local representatives made such strong efforts to get funding and to progress this. It has been ongoing since the mid-2000s. Planning through the Part 8 process was achieved in 2006, phase one was constructed in 2010, a compulsory purchase order for phase two was approved by An Bord Pleanála in 2011 and the notice to treat was subsequently served on landowners. It has been a long journey to get as far as we have. When I put forward the Department's submission as part of the capital review process in 2017, additional funding was sought to allow it go ahead. The extra funding allocated as part of the capital review process, and reflected in the national development plan, means the project is now being progressed to construction.
I welcome and want to convey again the importance of this project. The current IDA industrial estate in Finisklin is chock-a-block. There is no space for new factory buildings so it is crucial that this progresses as quickly as possible.
I thank the IDA, Sligo County Council and the local representatives. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport provided €11 million and I think the IDA provided €5 million. It is a good combined effort.