Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the pupils from the school mentioned. They have a worthy representative speaking on behalf of Donegal today, who will no doubt give me and successive Ministers a difficult time if we do not deliver for Donegal.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 41 together.

First, I would like to explain that, as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have overall responsibility for funding and policy concerning the national roads programme. However under the Roads Acts the planning, design and operation of individual roads is a matter for the relevant road authority in the case of local and regional roads, or for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, in conjunction with the relevant local authority in the case of national roads.

The TEN-T priority improvement projects in Donegal consist of improvements and realignment of three sections of the national road network. These are the Ballybofey and Stranorlar bypass on the N13 and N15; the N56-N13-N14 Letterkenny to Manorcunningham route;and the N14 link between Manorcunningham and Lifford, Strabane and the A5.

TII has advised my Department of the current status of the projects. Technical advisors are continuing to develop the schemes through phases 1 to 4 of the project management guidelines. A number of route options have been identified and it is anticipated that the preferred routes will be presented to the public in early 2019. The preferred routes will then be brought forward for further design and appraisal during 2019. The construction timetable is estimated to be in the region of approximately 36 months with an estimated completion date at the end of 2027. However I would like to stress that any timeframe is dependant on obtaining the necessary consents at various critical stages, including at the route selection, detailed design and tender stages. Meeting the requirements of the public spending code, obtaining planning consent from An Bord Pleanála and an adequate capital budget are also critical to delivering the project.

These TEN-T projects will greatly improve journey times, improve safety and significantly improve local and regional connectivity which will help strengthen economic growth for Donegal.

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