Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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146. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to confirm funding for the upgraded M7 Naas-Oberstown interchange and Sallins bypass; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this stretch of motorway is the most dangerous in the State in terms of incidents recorded annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4347/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, I have answered many questions regarding the M7 Naas Bypass widening, the Oberstown Interchange and the Sallins bypass since I became Minister last year.  Most recently, I took a Topical Issue debate on 15th January 2015 where I set out the current position regarding funding for this scheme.  I am happy to once again re-state that position.  

As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding regarding the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads, such as the Naas Bypass widening, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. As part of its remit the NRA monitors collisions across the national road network. The assessment and prioritisation of individual national road projects is a matter for the NRA within its capital budget and in accordance with section 19 of the Roads Act.

With regard to the Osberstown interchange and the Sallins bypass the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources, supplemented by State road grants. The selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is, therefore, a matter for the local authority.

Owing to the national financial position, there have been very large reductions in roads expenditure in recent years. The reality is that the available funds do not match the amount of work that needs to be done to maintain existing road infrastructure or address demands for new road improvement projects. Funding in 2008 was €2.3 billion while funding this year is around €730 million for the national, regional and local road network.  Unfortunately, the current financial realities are such that the budgets proposed for my Department for 2016 and 2017 indicate that capital funding will continue to be very tight, and my ability to progress new projects and PPPs is limited.

I acknowledge it is important to restore over time capital funding for the transport sector to ensure that infrastructure is maintained but, as of now, I am not in a position to give a commitment in regard to funding of the projects in question, although I acknowledge their national and local importance.