Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank both Deputies for raising this important matter. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding for the national roads programme, but the planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects are matters for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects are matters, in the first instance, for Tll, in accordance with section 19 of the Roads Act. Ireland has just under 100,000 km of road in its network and the maintenance and improvement of national, regional and local roads place a substantial financial burden on local authorities and the Exchequer. As a result of the national financial position, there were very large reductions in the Exchequer funding available for roads expenditure after the financial crisis. The capital plan, Building on Recovery, for the period 2016 to 2021 and the capital plan review allocations mark a significant step forward in restoring funding to the levels needed to maintain the road network in a "steady state" condition and allow for investment in road improvement schemes.

Minor improvement schemes were included in the road safety strategy. TII is maintaining an ongoing rolling programme of minor projects. To date, 42 minor schemes have been completed. Available funding has allowed TII to maintain delivery on a minimum of four schemes each year and to prepare additional schemes on an ongoing basis. I understand that TII envisage continuing to undertake a minimum of four schemes a year. County Roscommon has four schemes included in TII's rolling programme of minor projects. The N61 Coolteige scheme is currently under construction and the N60 at Oran, the N61 from Ballymurray to Knockcroghery and the N61 from Clashnaganny to Tulsk are currently at various stages of the design process.

The section of the N4 referred to by the Deputies includes two junctions on the N4 at Croghan and Cootehill. These junctions were identified through the HD15 safety programme and improvements were made by Roscommon County Council in late 2016 and early 2017 in terms of signage and lining improvements, including arrows. The junctions will be the subject of ongoing assessment under the HD15 programme, the results of which will be communicated to Roscommon County Council for follow up action, if required.

The programme remains in place and if further works are considered necessary the local authority can again carry out a feasibility report. The minors programme referred to is also available to deal with the bigger schemes identified through this HD15 process and also to address other safety, capacity and alignment concerns.

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