Written answers

Tuesday, 13 February 2007

Department of Transport

National Development Plan

10:00 am

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 477: To ask the Minister for Transport the national road projects that will be prioritised in the greater Dublin region under the new national development plan; the amount of funding allocated for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5368/07]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The National Development Plan 2007 to 2013 includes, in respect of road infrastructure in the Dublin region, the completion by 2010 of the M50 upgrade and the five Major Interurban Routes linking Dublin to Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and the Border. Additionally, funding is to be provided to allow for the carrying out of feasibility and planning work on the proposed Dublin Outer Orbital Route and the Eastern Bypass.

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 478: To ask the Minister for Transport the large scale transport infrastructure projects which will be completed during the lifetime of the new national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5370/07]

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 479: To ask the Minister for Transport the projects contained in the new national development plan that will be procured and commenced in 2007 in his Department; when they will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5799/07]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 478 and 479 together.

The National Development Plan (2007-2013) is a strategic document setting out a broad investment framework and investment priorities, together with indicative financial allocations, for the next seven years. It does not contain a list of all projects to be undertaken in 2007 and/or over the period of the Plan, although certain Chapters, including those on Regional Development, Economic Infrastructure and Social Infrastructure, refer to projects scheduled for delivery or progression between now and the end of 2013.

Transport 21 projects which, subject to compliance with the relevant statutory procedures, are scheduled to commence in 2007 include:

ProjectCompletion
Delivery of Red Line tramcar extensions2008
Western Rail Corridor
Cork Commuter Line
M50 Upgrade — Phase 3
N9 / M9 Waterford to Knocktopher Motorway2009
Dublin City Centre rail resignalling project
N4 Leixlip to M50 Dual Carriageway
Luas extension from Connolly to Docklands
Kildare Rail Project2010
Sandyford Luas line extension to Cherrywood
N3 Clonee to North of Kells Motorway
N6 Galway to Ballinasloe Dual Carriageway
M7 / M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill/Castletown Motorway
M50 Upgrade — Phase 2

A large number of national road projects are already underway which will be completed during the lifetime of the National Development Plan, including: N1 (Border to Dundalk), N2 Castleblaney Bypass, N6 Kinnegad to Kilbeggan, N11 Enniskerry Junction Improvements, Arklow — Gorey Bypass, N51 Navan Inner Relief Road, N52 Mullingar to Belvedere, N77 Kilkenny Ring Road, N4 Dromod to Rooskey, N5 Charlestown Bypass, N6 Kilbeggan to Athlone, N7 Nenagh to Limerick and Limerick Tunnel, N8 Cullahill to Cashel and Cashel to Mitchelstown, N9 Carlow Bypass, N11 Kilpedder — Delgany Junction, N25 Waterford City Bypass (PPP) and N56 Mountaintop to Illistrim.

Public transport projects underway include delivery of 150 intercity railcars, construction of the Docklands rail station and Portlaoise traincare depot and DART train refurbishment.

Transport 21 projects which, subject to compliance with the relevant statutory procedures, are also expected to be completed during the lifetime of the new National Development Plan include the five major inter-urban motorways linking Dublin with the Border, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford, Metro North, Western Rail Corridor (Phase 2) (Athenry to Tuam), Navan Rail Line (Phase 1), the Citywest and Liffey Junction extensions of the Luas and the Lucan Luas Line.

A number of other significant national road schemes will also be completed within the lifetime of the new NDP but formal construction and completion dates have yet to be finalized by the National Roads Authority which is responsible, under the Roads Act, 1993, for the implementation of the National Roads Programme element of the new National Development Plan. In particular there will be substantial progress on the development of the Atlantic Road Corridor, facilitated by the decision announced in the NDP to bring forward funding for that corridor. Projects to benefit from this include the N18 Oranmore to Gort and Gort to Crusheen Bypass.

Substantial progress will also be made on other projects in the NDP period, which are scheduled for completion within the Transport 21 timeframe. These include the Interconnector and associated electrification, Metro West, Navan Rail project (Phase 2), Tuam — Claremorris section of the Western Rail Corridor and the Cherrywood — Bray Luas extension.

Allocation under the Regional airports capital grant scheme will be announced shortly. In addition the Government recently committed €10.87 million to the City of Derry Airport for a runway safety project, under co-funding arrangements agreed with the British Government. The project is expected to commence in 2007 and to be completed within a matter of years.

Investment in State airports, under the NDP is primarily a matter for the Dublin Airport Authority, while investment in ports is primarily a matter for the relevant port companies.

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