Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising this important subject. It is a matter of life and death which makes it vital and very relevant. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding relating to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

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 on the Exchequer. Due to the national financial position, there were very large reductions in Exchequer funding available for roads expenditure after the financial crisis. The building on recovery capital plan for 2016 to 2021 and the capital plan review allocations mark a significant step forward in terms of restoring funding to the levels needed to maintain the road network in a steady state condition and to allow for investment in road improvement schemes.

Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with section 19 of the Roads Act. 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 TIl to maintain delivery on a minimum of four schemes each year and to prepare additional schemes on an ongoing basis. TII advises me that the authority envisages continuing to undertake a minimum of four schemes a year.

I understand from TII that on the section of the N22 to which the Deputy refers, one accident site has been identified at Castlemore through the HD 15 process. The HD 15 process involves the recording of accident clusters and the identification of locations where accident statistics are above average. The local authority has been notified of this accident location and has been requested to prepare a feasibility report suggesting appropriate interventions to improve safety. Once prepared, it will be submitted to TIl for consideration for an appropriate course of action and possible funding. On receipt of an acceptable feasibility report, funding may be provided by Tll for any work required to improve safety on the national road, including this junction.

As the Deputy has referred to traffic to and from local and regional roads to the N22, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in Cork is the statutory responsibility of Cork County Council, in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the council’s resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded are also matters for the council. Cork County Council has the authority to provide traffic calming measures on roads in its charge.

There are many competing demands across the system but overall we are moving in the right direction. TII and local authorities will continue to maintain a focus on network safety.

See this speech in context