Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans for the national roads strategy after the completion of the current inter-urban network programme and in the period from 2013 onwards; if any private public partnerships are currently being prepared or evaluated for new projects including the Leinster outer orbital route; if he will direct the National Roads Authority to undertake an audit and upgrade of the regional and local road networks; if his Department has proposed any indicative list of costs for such a programme to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17883/10]

Noel 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 Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

The priorities for the national roads investment programme, after the completion of the major inter-urban network in 2010, will be the Atlantic Road Corridor and the improvement of other key strategic routes.

The position in relation to the Leinster Orbital Route remains unchanged. Neither Transport 21 nor the current National Development Plan provided any funding for the construction of this project.

With regard to Public Private Partnerships, the NRA has raised over €2 billion to date in private sector funding for nine toll-based PPP projects and has been authorised to raise a further €1 billion in private investment through unitary payment-based (i.e. non-tolled) PPPs. Procurement is currently underway on three new PPP projects: the N17/N18 Gort-Tuam, the N11 Arklow/Rathnew (including N7 Newlands Cross Junction Upgrade), and the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy/N25 New Ross Bypass. Proposals are being advanced for further PPPs on the Cork/Limerick element of the Atlantic Road Corridor.

In line with the undertaking in the Renewed Programme for Government, I have already asked the National Roads Authority (NRA) to review the completion dates and appropriate road design standards of roads projects at the design, or earlier, stage of development, in the light of the economic circumstances, falling road usage and climate change. I expect this report to be completed by late Summer 2010.

In relation to regional and local roads, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. The carrying out of works on these roads is a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants.

From 1st September 2009, the National Roads Authority was tasked to undertake the administration of the Regional and Local Roads Investment Programme on behalf of my Department. The National Roads Authority recommends grant allocations for regional and local roads, which are subject to final approval by me.

In the current economic climate, the priority is to protect the existing network, particularly the massive €6 billion Exchequer investment in it since 1997. Increased grant assistance is being provided in 2010 for the maintenance and rehabilitation of road pavements and particularly to address the impact of the severe weather late last year and earlier in the year, with a corresponding reduction in grant allocations for major new road schemes and for major realignment schemes.

A comprehensive study into the condition of pavements on regional and local roads was carried out in 1996 and a second national study was completed in 2005.

A detailed assessment of the condition of regional roads will be undertaken in 2010. The outcome of this will influence funding decisions in future years.