Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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37. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form the existing infrastructure that is deteriorating due to a lack of funds being received from his Department; if he will provide in tabular form infrastructure projects that are currently under way and funded by his Department; the cost of these infrastructure projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27349/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Around 95% of the capital allocation in my Department's Vote relates to infrastructural investment in land transport, mainly in roads and public transport. A key element of this expenditure relates to the maintenance of existing assets. Apart from the land transport programme, capital funding is directed mainly towards Sports and Tourism programmes which are generally co-financed and do not place a requirement on the Department for their ongoing maintenance. Details of key infrastructure programmes and projects currently underway under the land transport and maritime programmes are either set out below or will be provided in due course by the agencies responsible.     

As the level of Exchequer funding available has diminished since the crisis, so too has our capacity to maintain the existing transport network and this has led to a deterioration in parts of our road network in particular. Recent Government Stimulus Plans have gone some way towards addressing this gap.

In this regard, work is well advanced within my Department on a Strategic Framework for Investment in Land Transport (SFILT). This will provide a framework for future transport investment by prioritising investment that can enhance economic productivity, while also recognising that meeting the needs of people is a critical aspect of transport infrastructure provision.  A key element is to estimate the level of funding necessary to maintain, manage and renew our existing transport infrastructure so as to keep it in an adequate condition, including any ongoing contractual commitments, and so avoid a backlog of  maintenance and renewal which could result in their degradation over time and ultimately lead to higher costs.

My Department's submission as part of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and Capital Review post-2015 reflects these issues. The outcome of this process will be a matter for Government in the context of the Estimates for 2015 and beyond. The SFILT document is nearing completion and I intend to publish it as a consultation document.

As I mentioned already, I have asked the relevant Agencies under my remit - principally, the National Roads Authority and the National Transport Authority - to provide details on specific roads and public transport projects currently underway. Under the Smarter Travel programme which is administered by my Department, projects under the National Cycle Network, Active Travel Towns and Smarter Travel Areas, are set out below.  

National Cycle Network Funding Programme 2014-2016

National Cycle Network - Stimulus Funding 2014

In relation to the Active Travel Towns Programme, a multi-annual budget of €6.6m has been approved for the period 2014-16 and 9 towns have been granted funding.  While the majority of the funding will be invested in infrastructure, some funding will be directed towards softer measures to encourage behavioural change.  The following is a list of projects being funded over the period 2014 to 2016:

In February 2012, the local authorities of Limerick City & County, Waterford and Mayo, as winners of the National Competition for Smarter Travel Areas, were awarded total funding of €21.7 million over a 5-year period.  The funding is being provided to transform the respective areas of Limerick City & Environs, Dungarvan and Westport into Smarter Travel Areas.  While a proportion of the funding will be used to develop infrastructure, some will be allocated towards supporting softer, behavioural change measures.  The funding being provided to each local authority over the period is as follows:

-  Limerick Smarter Travel - €9 million

-  Smarter Travel Go Dungarvan - €7.2 million

-  Smarter Travel Westport - €5 million

On the maritime side, some capital funding is available to Harbour Authorities for remedial works. Infrastructure projects currently underway are:

Approximately €450,000 has been allocated to the IRCG programme for 2014, in respect of the commencement of the building of a new Coast Guard station at Greystones for the volunteer unit.  The commencement of the project is subject to completion of the contract award process by the OPW.