Mr. Michael Nolan:

I thank the Chairman for inviting us to attend today's meeting. Before I move on to the matters the committee has asked us to address, I would like to make some introductory remarks about Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII. It was established under the Roads Act 2015, which provided for the merger of the staff and functions of the Railway Procurement Agency with those of the National Roads Authority. The name Transport Infrastructure Ireland was specified by the Minister as the name by which the NRA may describe itself for operational purposes. TII is a non-commercial semi-State body that operates under the aegis of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. Its primary purpose is to provide an integrated approach to the development, maintenance and operation of the national road network and light rail infrastructure.

I will now address specific matters of interest which come under the remit of TII. Funding for national road maintenance and renewal has reduced severely since the onset of the financial crisis in 2008. Maintenance funding decreased by approximately 35% between 2008 and 2016 against a background of significant additional commitments in the maintenance of the new motorway network and more costly winter operations. The costs associated with the safe and effective operation of the motorway network are significantly higher than those for other road types. Although modernised roads are much safer for road users, we have to ensure levels of safety and operational efficiency are maintained. Road pavement, which constitutes a substantial portion of the road asset, is valued at approximately €30 billion. We estimate that the current level of investment in pavement renewals is less than one third of that required to sustain the pavement condition in the long term. We should be replacing approximately 400 km of road pavement annually, but we are not doing so. If we continue to defer essential renewals, the cost will ultimately exceed significantly what would be incurred if the works were carried out in a timely manner.

TII's strategy for the improvement of the national road network is determined with regard to three strategic priorities: asset management, network rehabilitation and operations; minor and safety works; and major improvement projects. This approach is consistent with the priorities for future investment outlined in the strategic investment framework for land transport, published by the Department last year. As I have mentioned, a key consideration is to achieve steady state maintenance of the road network by allocating available funding to priority needs. This prevents the degradation of the asset and ensures the benefits of the road infrastructure are realised. The second priority relates to minor improvement works, the benefits of which relate to the safety and efficiency of the road network. Minor works are typically short realignments or safety improvements. The current construction programme of realignments will end soon. While approximately 50 other schemes of this nature are at various stages of planning, none of them can proceed to construction in the short term. Major schemes are considered in the context of the funding needs for the first two priorities and the infrastructure and capital investment plan. TII considers the future needs of the national roads network in the context of the anticipated demand associated with economic and population growth, road safety, improvements in accessibility to the regions and integration with other policies.

The capital investment plan provides for the construction of eight major national road projects and identifies five other projects to be progressed to construction subject to planning. The total investment is €730 million, with 90% of this spread over the last three years of the seven-year plan. This funding profile dictates the date on which construction will start. Most projects will start construction after 2019, with the exception of the widening of the M7 at Naas. TII's strategy is to advance enabling works during the early years of the seven-year plan.

Under the public private partnerships, PPP, programme three new roads are being delivered. These are the M17 Gort to Tuam motorway, the N25 New Ross bypass and the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy motorway. While these schemes are on target and are set to deliver significant benefits and value for money, roads are not included in the next phase of the PPP programme.

Should additional funding be allocated following the mid-term review of the plan TII will look at the potential to accelerate certain projects, the construction of additional projects and the planning of others, including the upgrade of the strategic connection between Cork and Limerick. As it can take five years to achieve planning approval for a major roads project we risk having a shortage of approved projects for inclusion in any new capital investment plan. Failure to respond to future needs will lead to increased congestion, longer and less reliable journey times, less safe roads, higher costs and suppressed economic activity.

I wish to refer to the North-South transport infrastructure area. The only cross-Border national route planned at the moment is the link crossing the River Foyle between Lifford and Strabane. The construction of the link is conditional on the construction of the A5 at Strabane. At the southern end of the A5 there will be a need to agree details where the new A5 meets the N2. As that section of the A5 will not be built for some years, neither Monaghan County Council nor the TII is actively engaged with Transport Northern Ireland on the crossing.

There are other national road initiatives in the Border area that do not involve a crossing. Donegal County Council is commencing the preparation of the design of a number of priority schemes. It is also progressing the construction of a number of minor realignment projects. Leitrim County Council will shortly open another realigned section of the N16 at Cornacloy. Monaghan County Council has completed a number of short upgrade schemes on the N2. In County Louth, land for the N52 Ardee link road has been purchased but funding is not available for construction.

I have kept my opening remarks brief. We are happy to answer questions on any scheme and matters of interest. If we do not have the information requested to hand we will follow up with a written statement.