Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020
198. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport when the feasibility study on the proposed Julianstown bypass, County Meath will commence; when the process will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24694/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
The main focus of expenditure under the National Development Plan (NDP) is on the maintenance and renewal of the regional and local road network and implementation of the 12 regional and local road projects identified for development, subject to necessary approvals, in the NDP. Some limited provision is being made in the capital budget for the appraisal of a pipeline of upgrade projects. This is intended to cover the appraisal of projects for future development, if possible.
In relation to the appraisal of possible measures to manage traffic in the vicinity of Julianstown, the Department understands that Meath County Council intends to carry out an origin-destination information gathering exercise to obtain a clear indication of the traffic movements and patterns in and around Julianstown. The Council intends that the data collected from this exercise will inform a wider transport study for Drogheda and East Meath area that Meath County Council proposes to carry out in conjunction with Louth County Council as part of a future Joint Urban Plan. I suggest that the Deputy might contact Meath County Council to ascertain the current position regarding the collection of origin to destination data in view of the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on the exercise. The Council should also be able to provide an update regarding the implementation of the traffic management measures proposed for the Julianstown area.
It should be noted that all proposed projects must now comply with the revised Public Spending Code published in December 2019. An important change to the Public Spending Code is the introduction of a requirement for a Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) for all projects with an estimated expenditure of €10 million or more. The SAR is now a key deliverable at the first decision stage in the project appraisal process.
The purpose of the Strategic Assessment Report is to examine the rationale for a proposed project and to ensure the strategic alignment of projects with Government policy, including the National Planning Framework and National Development Plan. The SAR is also an important step in the project lifecycle in that potential alternatives for an intervention are assessed and identified for further appraisal should the project progress to the Preliminary Business Case phase of the appraisal process. Once completed, a SAR needs Departmental approval.
