Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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34. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will progress the east-west link road for the local economy of east Cavan and the surrounding areas. [5758/17]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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As the Minister is aware, €2 million of taxpayers' money has already been spent on the design stage of a 75 km stretch of road known as the east-west link, which could provide huge economic benefit to Cavan-Monaghan and the whole Border region. Will the Minister please outline the progress of the design and the funding put in place for the motorway?

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I thank Deputy Niamh Smyth for her question.

Proposals to deliver an upgraded route linking Dundalk to Sligo, taking in Cavan, involve linking elements of the national road network and regional roads along as direct a route as possible. Essentially, the route involves upgrade or realignment works on the regional routes from Dundalk to Cavan and on national routes from Cavan to Sligo. The latter would involve a route that passes through Northern Ireland.

Regarding the national element, as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding regarding 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.

As regards the regional road aspect of the proposal, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area is a statutory function of local authorities in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993.  Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources, supplemented by State road grants.

The capital plan published in September 2015 provides for the gradual build-up in expenditure on the maintenance and improvement of the road network over a seven-year period. The bulk of the money involved is scheduled to be spent on maintenance of the road network with some limited investment in new projects.  My Department has provided funding to Cavan County Council, acting as lead authority with Monaghan and Louth county councils, with over €2 million in the period 2007 to 2014 to progress the regional road element of the project to preliminary design.  At an estimated cost of €150 million, unfortunately, it was not possible to include the east-west link in the capital plan.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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In my area of east Cavan, there is a high level of industry. We have Abbott, Lakeland Dairies and Cartons, all of which are hugely dependent on good road infrastructure. The Minister talked about the local authorities and Revenue going to them. My own local authority has been down significant funds over the past years. I take account of the fact that the Minister is new to his position and that this is not his fault. However, the local authority is down at least 50% in the investment that has been made by Revenue into our local authority. Therefore, the money is not currently with the local authority. The N3 has brought great benefits to Cavan and the surrounding area. It has opened up Bailieborough, Kingscourt, Virginia and Cavan town.

The access has been of huge economic benefit. This new east-west link, if it was to progress, would offer huge benefits also to west Cavan. Not too long ago I attended a committee meeting at which we discussed the exodus of young people and business from west Cavan because of the lack of infrastructure such as roads. This is an opportunity for the Minister.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I see the Deputy's point but it goes back to funding. That is the problem and a compelling case has to be made if anything of that nature is to qualify for funding. I would very much like to help the Deputy.

The National Roads Authority procured consultants in 2001 to carry out a strategic study of the development of an east-west link road. The consultants were to report on the merits and demerits, if any, of such a route with a recommendation for a preferred route corridor or corridors. The report concluded that an east-west link route was viable and justified and concluded the most feasible solution was to make use as much as possible of the existing network of roads. The stated objectives of the project were to address the deficiency in the transport network in the region and help connect the local population to the gateway town of Dundalk, the hub town of Cavan and the key transport corridors. These objectives were highly laudable, to reduce the travel times and improve access to regional, national and international markets as well as education, employment and other services and to deliver an improved road network in a cost-effective manner while minimising adverse environmental impact.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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This is important infrastructure and, as the Minister said, the cost it would incur would be approximately €150 million. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, recently announced €2 billion in additional capital spending. Would the Minister put in some representation for us in Cavan-Monaghan because we are fed up being left behind when it comes to roads, a very basic piece of transport network? We do not have railway or the broadband we would like to have. We depend solely on the road infrastructure in our area. We have wonderful indigenous business and small and medium enterprises in that area. People rely on their own resources to establish businesses and provide employment. The only way we can encourage and harness that is by having the infrastructure we need. I urge the Minister to do anything he can to bring further investment into Cavan-Monaghan, particularly with this east-west corridor that is so badly needed.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with Standing Orders, I can take a question from another Member. I call on Deputy Brendan Smith.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister rightly referred to the strategic study undertaken in the early 2000s that identified the potential of the route and the need for it to run through Sligo, Manorhamilton, Enniskillen, Belturbet, Cavan and Cootehill. In the meantime, the Cavan and Belturbet bypasses were constructed. They are integral parts of this route. In 2009, Cavan County Council, as the lead local authority, along with Monaghan and Louth county councils, appointed consultants with specific reference to the part of the route relating to Cavan, Cootehill, Shercock, Carrickmacross and Dundalk. Substantial money has already been spent on planning and design.

We will all go around in circles attending meetings about Brexit and the challenges it poses. The Minister needs funding to bring infrastructure up to a standard, particularly in the Border region where, for historical reasons, there was under-investment due to the Troubles on our doorstep. If our industries are to have any chance of remaining competitive with the particular challenges facing us in the Border area due to Brexit, we need modern infrastructure. People will ask what the Government should do in advance of Brexit. One thing it should do is make additional investment in necessary infrastructure to try to assist enterprises that already exist and create very valuable employment.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I thank Deputies Niamh Smyth and Brendan Smith for their special pleading, which is perfectly legitimate. This is what happens all the time, particularly in respect of roads. I do not want to give them any encouragement because the constraints on the purse are so huge but I understand the real problems in the Border areas, particularly in the light of Brexit. The Deputies have made a good case but, as I said, there is no provision in the capital plan for the east-west scheme. It is open to individual local authorities to progress the upgrade of sections of the route from their own resources. While the Deputies might query whether this project will be considered in the capital plan review in light of Brexit there are no proposals at present to do so given that the overall funding available under the review is limited to €2.65 billion across all sectors. The most that can be said is that while available funding is not sufficient to address all the demands for improvement schemes, including schemes such as the east-west link by the end of the capital plan period, capital funding for the road network is expected to be back up to the levels needed to support maintenance and improvement works. At that stage there will be more scope to consider projects such as the east-west link on a phased basis.