Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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27. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on plans to address concerns over a shortfall in funding in the National Roads Authority to maintain the roads network, due to the decision by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to require the funding of public private partnerships from capital budgets; and if he is satisfied that the authority has adequate funding for maintenance and small capital project spending. [23473/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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​As the Deputy is aware the Government decided in 2010 that future PPP projects would be funded from capital budgets and this means that expenditure related to the current tranche of PPP projects will be drawn from NRA's capital budget together with other calls on that budget. As availability payments are contractual commitments, the onus is on the NRA is manage the balance of its budget taking account of this.  It is the case that in order to address the national finances there had to be sharp reductions in the roads capital budget. I hope the position has now been stabilised and as I have indicated previously it is important to restore over time the capital budget  to allow the maintenance and renewal of the roads network in support of economic development.