Mr. Peter Walsh:

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and members of the committee for their invitation to attend today. I am joined by my colleague, Mr. Nigel O’Neill, director of capital programme. I understand that the committee wishes to discuss large-scale capital projects. Before providing an update, I would like to briefly describe the duties and functions assigned to TII through legislation. The National Roads Authority, NRA, operating as Transport Infrastructure Ireland since 2015, was established under the Roads Act 1993.

It is the general duty of TII to secure the provision of a safe and efficient network of national roads, having regard to the needs of all users. Under the infrastructure guidelines, previously known as the public spending code, TII is the approving authority for national road projects and works in partnership with local authorities, which are the road authorities for all roads, including national roads.

In 2015, the NRA was merged with the Railway Procurement Agency. The Roads Act 2015 added the function of securing the provision of, or providing, such light railway, such as Luas, and metro railway infrastructure as may be determined by the National Transport Authority, NTA. The NTA has the statutory function of providing metro and light railway infrastructure. In doing so, the NTA arranges for TII to secure the provision of metro and light rail infrastructure. The NTA is also the approving authority for public transport infrastructure and services. For that reason, I will be deferring to the NTA in regard to light railway and metro projects.

In September 2021, TII became the approving authority for greenways on behalf of the Department of Transport. We have prepared a briefing paper providing an update on delivery of the NDP's national roads and greenways programmes. I hope members of the committee find it useful.

Under section 24 of the Roads Act, the Minister sets terms and conditions in respect of grants from moneys provided by the Oireachtas towards national roads capital projects and the current expenditure of TII. The amounts of the 2024 Exchequer capital and current grants for national roads, and conditions thereof, were issued to TII on 31 January. The Exchequer capital allocation for new roads projects is based on the following prioritisation: one, maintenance of existing national roads assets, helping to keep them to a safe and robust standard; two, progression of projects currently under construction and those close to construction; three, progression of the major projects at pre-approval gate 2 in the infrastructure guidelines; and, four, for projects further back in the development pipeline, that is, at pre-approval gate 1 in the infrastructure guidelines, the focus of the remaining funding should be on progressing bypasses and other projects that will contribute to supporting the national planning framework's national strategic outcome, NSO, 1, compact growth, and achieving the objectives of the Government's town centre first policy.

Safety is the priority for the Government. Therefore, it has prioritised funding for protection and renewal of the national roads network in the national development plan. For 2024, the Government is making Exchequer grants of approximately €298 million available for both current and capital protection and renewal works. Additionally, €97 million of Exchequer grants is being provided to TII for public private partnerships, PPPs, that are all in the operational phase. In regard to new roads, the Exchequer capital grants to be provided to TII for 2024 amount to approximately €147 million, subject to the condition that this funding is allocated toward those projects listed by the Minister, as referred to in the appendix. For greenways, the Exchequer capital grant to be provided to TII for 2024 is €72 million.

TII provides allocations to local authorities on an annual basis in order that they can deliver on their road authority functions on behalf of TII in respect of national roads and greenways. Before the end of this month, TII will issue the grant allocation booklets for national roads and greenways to all local authorities. Those allocations are an indication of the progress TII believes is possible on each national roads or greenways project or programme during 2024. The allocations will be used to reimburse the relevant local authorities for costs incurred in accordance with national roads and greenways chargeability requirements. If the progression of any national road or greenways project or programme is impeded or priorities change, the funding will be redistributed by TII, in accordance with its statutory remit, to other national roads or greenways projects or programmes.

I take this opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of the local authorities and their civil engineering contractors, and my colleagues in TII, on the projects that opened recently, which I will outline. The N40 Dunkettle interchange was opened by An Tánaiste on 12 February. The Grand Canal greenway phase 1, Aylmers Bridge to Sallins, was opened by the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, on 10 January. The N59 Moycullen bypass was opened by An Taoiseach on 11 December 2023. The N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom road development was opened by An Taoiseach on 6 November 2023. The Great Western Greenway extension from Achill Sound to Cashel was opened by the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Chambers, on 1 September 2023. The Athlone greenway at River Shannon Bridge was opened by the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, on 8 August 2023. The N17-R320 Lisduff junction was opened by the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Calleary, on 28 July 2023. The New Ross to Glenmore section of the South East Greenway was opened by the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, on 25 July 2023. The N5 Westport to Turlough road project was opened by the Taoiseach on 15 June 2023. The safety improvement project on the N24 Limerick to Tipperary roundabout at Beary's Cross was opened by the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, on 14 June 2023.

I turn now to enablers for delivery of the NDP. When I addressed the committee in June last year, I provided my views on challenges that must be overcome if Ireland is to deliver on its NDP objectives for transport infrastructure. At the time, several reforms had been put in place. From my perspective, the reforms to inflation risk sharing and other measures now included in the State's standard forms of contract have supported the increased interest we now see in tendering for construction contracts by Ireland's civil engineering sector. Furthermore, the increased resourcing allocated to the State's planning system appears to be speeding up planning decisions.

It is important that the State continues to drive out delays to the delivery of transport infrastructure. Therefore, I believe continued progress is needed in the following areas: one, ensuring alignment of stakeholders, especially State bodies and State-owned enterprises; two, continuing to review and update the State's standard form of contract to support the viability of the civil engineering sector; and, three, ensuring a reasonably stable supply of tendering opportunities for the civil engineering sector in order that capabilities can be maintained and developed. With respect to the last point, the windfall capital fund announced by the Government will be of great importance to avoid stop-start funding of infrastructure, especially during downturns.

That concludes my opening statement. My colleague and I will endeavour to provide any further information members of the committee may require.