I propose to take Questions Nos. 931 and 932 together.
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. Each local authority is the contracting authority for the purpose of implementation of regional and local road improvement projects.
Under the National Development Plan, my Department is committed at present to providing grant funding towards the cost of 12 significant capital road improvement schemes. The status and current estimated cost for each of these schemes is set out in the following table.
Name of Project
|
Estimated Cost of Project €m
|
Project Completion Date
|
Stage of Project Lifecycle
|
R407 Sallins By Pass
|
57
|
2020
|
Implementation / Construction
|
Coonagh to Knockalisheen
|
52
|
2022
|
Planning/design
|
Athy Southern Distributor Road
|
34
|
2023
|
Planning/design
|
Adamstown and Nangor Road Upgrade
|
18
|
2019
|
Implementation / Construction
|
Eastern Garavogue Bridge and Approach Road
|
26
|
2022
|
Planning/Design
|
Sligo Western Distributor Road
|
20
|
2020
|
Procurement
|
R498 Latteragh realignment
|
15
|
2021
|
Planning/design
|
Tralee Northern Relief Road
|
11
|
2021
|
Detailed Appraisal Phase
|
Portlaoise Southern Distributor Road
|
7
|
2019
|
Implementation / Construction
|
Laytown to Bettystown Link Road
|
5
|
2020
|
Planning/design
|
Dingle Relief Road
|
4
|
2019
|
Implementation / Construction
|
Shannon Crossing/Kilalloe Bypass/R494 Upgrade
|
50
|
2023
|
Planning/design
|
As regards the Carrigaline Western Distributor Road, while my Department is not in a position to commit to grant funding the construction of the scheme at this point, the Department has been liaising with Cork County Council with a view to finalising an updated project appraisal. Cork County Council’s application for funding for the scheme under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund was successful and €750,000 has been allocated to the scheme in 2019 under that Fund.
As regards the R157, the R162 Navan to Kingscourt the Carlow Southern Link Road and the Thurles Relief Road these projects were mentioned in the National Development Plan as examples of projects which would be the subject of appraisal. A safety scheme on the R157 Castlefarm/Grange, Maynooth road has been implemented in 2018 and my Department is continuing to liaise with the relevant local authorities in relation to appraisal requirements in relation to these and other schemes.