Jennifer Whitmore
Ceist:
274. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details of the total length of roadway managed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland per county; the corresponding length of roadway verge that is grassed; the cost of cutting that grassed area in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1820/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you on the status of this project.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.
I refer to your recent parliamentary question, Ref. No. 1820/23, to Mr Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Transport. The position in relation to your enquiry is as follows.
The national road network, which constitutes roads with an ‘M’ or ‘N’ designation, has a length of 5,293 km and accounts for approximately 5 per cent of the country's roads network. The lengths of national road by county are provided in the spreadsheet attached. TII, however, does not have figures for the corresponding length of roadway verge that is grassed.
The national road network is managed by a combination of Public Private Partnership (PPP) Concessions, Motorway Maintenance and Renewal Contracts (MMaRCs) and local road authorities, in association with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).
With regard to the cost of cutting roadway verge that is grassed, it is not possible to give a breakdown of such costs. For example, PPPs and MMaRCs maintain their sections of national roadway in accordance with specific contract requirements which include all routine road maintenance, including a diverse range of other obligations such as crash barrier repair works, drainage harrowing, litter pickups, noxious weed control, invasive species control and general landscape maintenance. Similarly, local authorities receive an annual lump sum grant from TII for national roadside maintenance, which includes a range of similar tasks.
By way of additional information, most grass verge cutting is undertaken with the intention of increasing visibility and therefore safety. Such cutting typically involves a single swathe along a verge that is mown approximately five times per year. The rest of national roadside verges tend to be green areas that are managed for biodiversity, in a variety of landscape types from wildflower through to woodland fringe and hedgerows; an approach supported by the ‘All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2021-2025’.
I hope that this information is of assistance to you.
