Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Lombard for raising the issue. He is correct that I have family in Bandon, as my brother and sister both live there. My brother is a publican. Senator Lombard referred to the flooding in the town and my brother has been flooded three times. I know acutely the difficulties the town has experienced with flooding. I am glad the Office of Public Works and Cork County Council have a plan in place to remedy the issue.

As I did to Senator Gallagher, I apologise to Senator Lombard for the absence of the Minister, Deputy Ross. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has responsibility for overall policy for and funding of the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, formerly known as the NRA, 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 is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with section 19 of the Act. As I stated previously, Ireland has 100,000 km of road in its network, and the maintenance and improvement of national, regional and local roads places a substantial burden on local authorities and on the Exchequer. Given the national financial position, there have been very large reductions in Exchequer funding available for roads expenditure over the past number of years. For this reason, the focus has been on maintenance and renewal rather than new improvements.

The capital plan published in September 2015 outlined proposed transport investment priorities to 2022. The transport element of the plan was framed by the conclusions reached in the Department's strategic investment framework for land transport. This report highlighted the importance of maintenance and renewal of transport infrastructure together with targeted investments to address particular bottlenecks and critical safety issues. The capital plan provides €6 billion for investment in the roads network in the period to 2022, with €4.4 billion earmarked for the maintenance and strengthening of the existing road network throughout the country, and €1.6 billion for new projects, as I stated earlier to Senator Gallagher.

There will be a significant ramp up in funding from 2020, which will facilitate the construction of the road improvement projects included in the plan. In this context, a number of important projects in Cork are included in the plan, including the upgrade of the Dunkettle roundabout and the N22 road between Ballyvourney and Macroom. In addition, the plan also provides that the N28 upgrade scheme will commence, subject to necessary approvals.

The Minister understands from Transport Infrastructure Ireland that while it is aware of the N71 Bandon relief road extension as a potential improvement scheme, due to lack of funding it is not in a position to progress the scheme. While available funding is not sufficient to address all the demands for improvement schemes, including schemes such as the Bandon relief road extension, by the end of the plan period the Minister expects that capital funding for the road network will be back up to the levels needed to support maintenance and improvement works in the future.

With regard to the possibility of additional funding within the plan period, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform indicated in the budget that he will bring forward a capital review. As I stated in the previous debate, there is a strong case for additional funding for the transport sector, which the Minister will make. I know exactly the situation in Bandon. The existing relief road is not sufficient to meet the needs of the town. Towns throughout the country are in a similar situation. The Leas-Chathaoirleach is familiar with Adare, Abbeyfeale and Newcastle West in my constituency, and they are in the same situation. We must try to progress them as best we can. I will bring the issue raised by Senator Lombard to the attention of the Minister. The total estimated cost for the project, according to the Department, is approximately €7.5 million. It might be possible for Senator Lombard to have an opportunity to discuss the matter directly with the Minister. I will certainly seek to arrange this.