Dáil debates
Wednesday, 22 March 2017
Other Questions
Road Projects
2:35 pm
Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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31. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the socioeconomic benefits that would accrue from the construction of the new N22 Cork to Kerry road; if his attention has been further drawn to the rate of fatalities and serious injuries on the stretch of road in need of replacement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14095/17]
Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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70. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the new N22 Cork to Kerry road will be prioritised for construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14094/17]
Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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We have only three minutes remaining to take Deputy Griffin's question. The Deputy will have more time if we proceed directly to the response.
Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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I have spoken umpteen times in the Chamber in the past six years about the N22 Cork to Kerry road project. Since 1990, there have been more than 40 fatalities on this section of road. It would be a great socio-economic development for the entire south west region if the road project were to be accelerated in the capital plan. Clearance works are starting this year and a contract valued at €14 million to prepare the route has been signed. However, funding is needed to lay the tarmac and allow the works to begin in earnest.
Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Minister to tailor his response.
Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 70 together.
I will be as fast as I can. Deputy Griffin will be aware that I was meant to travel the road in question with him last week. Unfortunately, I had to postpone my visit, for which I apologise, as a result of events in County Mayo. I will visit the area in the next week or two or soon after Easter to see the route at first hand.
In cases where a road authority, namely, the local authority, has information that indicates that road safety improvement measures on a national route are warranted, the road authority should prepare a feasibility report and carry out an analysis of the collision history on the route. If the number of collisions meet the criteria for a high collision location, the road authority can design a scheme to deal with the safety issues and cost and prioritise the scheme in relation to other works being proposed. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, has allocated €16.7 million for high collision location safety works on the national road network in 2017. In addition, TII also provides a programme to address improvements to skid resistance. A total of €415,000 has been allocated to Cork County Council and €260,000 to Kerry County Council in respect of this programme.
I am fully aware of the strategic importance of the N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom scheme and I understand from TII that it is intended that mainline construction will commence in 2020. As regards an earlier construction start date, the extra funding for allocation across government under the capital plan and the current review of the plan reflect the constraints associated with European Union fiscal rules. The bulk of additional funding, both currently and under the review, will be available in 2020 and 2021, with significantly lower amounts in 2018 and 2019. This significantly constrains the scope to accelerate major investment projects. Decisions under the review are ultimately matters for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and Government. However, I take very seriously the safety elements the Deputy has brought to my attention again.
Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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In terms of the number of projects nationwide that are or will be shovel ready in 2018, the Ballyvourney to Macroom road merits serious consideration for many reasons. The project would open up the engine of Cork city and its jobs market to a new cohort of people who wish to continue to live in County Kerry, contribute to their local economy and spend in their local community. The project would be a significant leap forward for the county and would also enable us to attract investment, thus reducing the problem of geographical peripherality that we have suffered for many generations. This is a key project which should be accelerated. While I understand that constraints apply and the scope for accelerating projects is narrow, from a national perspective, this project stands out as one that could be accelerated in the review. I ask the Minister to give it every consideration.
Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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People believe the N22 Macroom bypass project could proceed much quicker than is currently the case. The key issue is the tendering for construction, which, for a project of this scale, would take the best part of a year to complete. The tendering process could run in parallel with the land purchase and could have started at any time from 2013 onwards. It did not commence in 2014, 2015 or 2016. Will the Minister release the Macroom bypass project to tender for construction this year?
The other key point relates to the archaeological and sensing works proposed for later this year, which are being packaged as an advance project. These works formed part of the construction contract which was parked. They were plucked from that contract and repackaged as advance works. The substantive contract must be released to tender for construction. We do not need to wait for land purchase. The tender could have proceeded at any time since 2013 when the compulsory purchase order was confirmed. Will the Minister release the project for tender this year?
Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I thank Deputies Brendan Griffin and Aindrias Moynihan for raising this issue which has been addressed many times previously. I assure them I will give the matter due and serious consideration in the capital review.