Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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208. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide his preferred options for the continuation of major road improvement projects including motorways throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46644/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy knows, the economic reality of recent years has meant significant reductions in roads budgets across the board. My Department's priority is to maintain the existing road network, and unfortunately this means that there is little scope for carrying out any major new road improvement projects.  

It has been possible to progress a number of PPP projects under the 2012 Government Infrastructure Stimulus Programme and there is a pipeline of projects for which planning approval has been obtained.  As the Deputy will appreciate, I have to prioritise the maintenance and upkeep of existing infrastructure and the scope for progressing new projects will very much depend on the level of future capital funding made available in my Department's Vote.