Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

258. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the progress of the proposed M20 Cork to Limerick motorway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42584/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and implementation of individual 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.  Because of the national financial position, there have been very large reductions in roads expenditure over the past number of years.  The reality is that the available funds do not match the amount of work which could be undertaken.  For this reason it is not possible to progress a range of worthwhile projects and the main focus has to be on the maintenance and repair of roads and this will remain the position in the coming years.  

In relation to projects of the scale of the M20, it is not feasible given current and future projections that the State would be in a position to build this from its own resources. Rather, it would have be constructed through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. While this model involves the private sector carrying the construction risk, it does require the State to meet the initial design, planning and land purchase costs. In the context of available road monies these costs are not affordable at present. For now NRA will have to work within its capital budget and assess and prioritise projects within that funding envelope.

The scope for progressing projects such as the M20 Cork to Limerick project will be very much dependent on the availability of funding in the future.