Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 43, 51, 86, 91 and 93 together.

As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in respect of the national roads programme.  The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. In the current economic circumstances, the capital allocations to the NRA have been reduced significantly and this has meant that a range of worthwhile improvement projects have been deferred. The primary focus for direct Exchequer spending is the maintenance of the existing network, and this will continue to be the case for some years.

The Government's stimulus package of July 2012 envisages €1.4 billion in private investment for infrastructure projects, including roads, as a way of stimulating economic growth and creating employment.  These projects must be off-balance sheet and, therefore, must be done by way of public private partnership, PPP. This requires that the projects must be of a particular scale. The M17-M18 PPP scheme is one of the priority projects identified for inclusion in the first phase of the programme.  The NRA is responsible for implementation of the project, and following the contract signing for the N11 Newlands Cross PPP, the NRA is in discussion with the preferred bidder for the M17-M18 project with a view to progressing it. The other two projects which are highlighted within the stimulus programme are the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy project and the N25 New Ross bypass project.

When the stimulus programme was announced, it was indicated that as the first phase projects progressed and as funding permitted, a second phase would be considered.  In this regard, particular prominence was attached to the Galway city outer bypass project. As the Deputies will be aware, this has been the subject of legal challenge and the European Court has only recently delivered its judgement in the case. The matter has been referred back to the Irish Supreme Court. The NRA and the local authority are currently examining the implications of the European Court's decision and the most appropriate response.

To ensure there might be projects suitable for inclusion in future phases of the PPP programme in the medium term, the NRA has decided to take a number of projects through the planning process to develop a pipeline of potential future projects. In this regard, I understand the NRA intends to submit to the N5 Westport to Turlough project and the N5 Colloney to Castlebaldwin project to An Bord Pleanála later in the year. The Macroom bypass project was approved by An Bord Pleanála in April 2011. However, a judicial review against the approval of the scheme was heard and rejected by the High Court. I understand the applicant has sought leave to appeal against the High Court’s decision. A determination on whether leave to appeal will be granted is due to be made in July.  Depending on the outcome of the latter, this is a project which the NRA may give consideration to including in a future round of PPP projects.

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