Written answers

Thursday, 9 July 2009

12:00 pm

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 26: To ask the Minister for Transport the amount of money allocated to road maintenance and improvement projects here in 2007, 2008 and 2009; if funding for capital spending on road building and maintenance projects including up to 80 projects that are currently being planned has been halted; the road building or maintenance projects which have been halted as a result of these new directions and if he will make a statement on the matter [28392/09]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Act 1993 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

The Exchequer funding provided for to capital and current expenditure on the national road network is as follows:

CapitalCurrentTotal
2007€1,712,706,000€55,097,000€1,767,803,000
2008€1,599,577,000€58,210,000€1,657,787,000
2009Allocation€1,438,900,000€44,255,000€1,483,155,000

Funding for capital spending on national roads building and maintenance projects has not been halted. Notwithstanding the current difficult economic climate, the allocation of almost €1.5 billion for 2009 is evidence of this Government's continued commitment to investment in the national road infrastructure.

The priority up to the end of 2010 will be the completion of the five major interurban routes (MIUs). Significant progress continues to be made in their delivery. The M1 from Dublin to the Border was completed in 2007, while work on the other routes is underway and on schedule for completion in 2010. In addition to the MIUs, work is underway on the upgrade of the M50 which is also due for completion in 2010.

The NRA's current construction programme is proceeding on time and within budget. I expect this to continue to be the case right up to the completion of the MIUs. As all of this work is contractually committed, the current economic situation will not impact upon delivery targets.

The priority for the roads investment programme after the completion of the major interurban network will be the Atlantic Road Corridor, where construction is already underway, as well as the improvement of other key national primary routes and the targeted improvement of certain national secondary routes. Decisions to proceed with individual projects will be taken by the NRA from time to time in the light of the available public finance.

In relation to regional and local roads, the provision, improvement and maintenance of such roads, in its area, is a statutory function of each individual local authority under section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993, to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants paid by my Department.

The Exchequer for capital and current expenditure on regional and local roads is as follows:

CapitalCurrentTotal
2007€478,606,096€128,918,904€607,525,000
2008€469,822,922€134,391,008€604,214,000
2009 Allocation€321,500,000€125,977,000€447,477,000

The capital budget for improvement works this year is €321.5 million. This will fund 241 separate improvement projects at various stages of planning design and construction. In addition, the Restoration Improvement Programme will result in a further 1,700 kilometres of road being reconstructed or improved.

There was no reduction in the April Supplementary Budget in the provision for maintenance works and grants of almost €126 million were allocated to local authorities. The bulk of this - €85 million – is being invested in the Restoration Maintenance Programme and I fully expect to see an increase in surface dressing output achieved by local authorities under this programme this year, over the 2008 output.

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