Written answers

Wednesday, 20 April 2016

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Road Projects Status

Photo of Peter FitzpatrickPeter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael)
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510. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the proposed western bypass of Ardee, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7335/16]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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​​As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  Within its annual budget the planning, design and implementation of individual road projects, such as the Ardee Bypass is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

The Ardee Bypass was not included in the Capital Plan published in September 2015. As explained previously, decisions on the transport elements of the Capital Plan were framed by the conclusions reached in my Department’s Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport. Based on the findings in that report it is envisaged that maintenance and renewal of the road network will continue to be the main priority over the period of the plan and the bulk of the roads capital, over €4 billion, is earmarked for such essential work with a further €600 million allocated for implementation of the PPP road programme which is already underway.

In this context the Ardee bypass was one of the projects that it was not possible to include given the overall funding envelope available. Over the period of the Capital Plan funding for land transport, including roads, will be built up towards the levels needed to support adequate maintenance and development.

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