Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 308: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when building work will start on the N17 Gort to Tuam upgrade, in view of the fact that sanction has been provided for M7 Newlands Cross and M11 Arklow to Rathnew, the only other priority projects in the revised public capital programme; if he will confirm that the N17 project will proceed through public private partnership; if there is a contingency plan to fund the project from the Exchequer in the event that a PPP is not feasible; his views that the N17 upgrade is vital to the economic development of the western and north western regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3240/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. However, the planning, design, construction and maintenance of individual national road projects, including Public Private Partnerships, are matters for the the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2007. The assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is also a matter for the NRA under these Acts. In line with the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework 2012- 2016, the intention is to pursue the N17/N18 Gort-Tuam as a PPP with a view to the project going ahead within the framework period subject to securing PPP finance. Direct Exchequer funding of the project is not under consideration at present, given current financial constraints. This project has a positive cost benefit ratio and will support future economic development in the West and North-Western region.