Written answers

Wednesday, 20 July 2011

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Road Network

10:00 pm

Photo of Nicky McFaddenNicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if funding under the specific improvements grants scheme will be allocated for the realignment of Garrycastle Bridge in Athlone, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21515/11]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.

A total of €439,676,000 is being provided to local authorities for regional and local roads in 2011. This allocation includes additional funding of €60 million being provided through the Restoration Improvement Programme under the Government's jobs initiative. From this overall allocation Westmeath County Council has been allocated a total of €10,406,703 in 2011, which includes an allocation of €400,000 for the Garrycastle Bridge project under the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme.

Photo of Tom FlemingTom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 334: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he will improve access to County Kerry by providing the necessary funding to upgrade the Cork to Kerry road and the Limerick to Kerry road, and also provide additional flights form Dublin to Kerry as this is vital to such a peripheral county as Kerry. [21517/11]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 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 the NRA in accordance with section 19 of the Roads Act.

Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's questions regarding road access to Kerry to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

As regards providing additional flights from Dublin to Kerry, a tender process for a public service obligation (PSO) contract for the Kerry-Dublin air route, is currently underway following publication of the relevant notices in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 3 May 2011. In line with the EU Guidelines, the process of renewal of a PSO takes a minimum of six months from the date the notices appear in the Official Journal. In accordance with this, my Department is working to ensure that the new PSO air service between Dublin and Kerry commences at the earliest opportunity in November 2011.

Photo of Noel HarringtonNoel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 335: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the position regarding the construction of the Bantry relief road; the timetable for the completion of this road project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21558/11]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 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 the NRA in accordance with section 19 of the Roads Act.

Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

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