Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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72. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of plans to allocate capital funding for the projects outlined in the capital plan; and when each of these projects will commence. [15618/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The previous Government agreed a Capital Plan for 2016 to 2021 for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport of over €10bn.  Given the fiscal assumptions at the time, the initial years show incremental increases with much new project investment towards the latter half of the plan.

Our capital envelope this year is €1.075 billion. By 2021, our capital envelope will have increased to €2 billion.

At €720 million, the largest portion of this year's capital envelope is allocated to national, regional and local roads.  The planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland and I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply on such projects.

As regards regional and local roads, implementation is the responsibility of road authorities. My Department is liaising with the relevant authorities to finalise an implementation programme for projects in the Capital Plan.  An initial allocation has been made to South Dublin County Council to upgrade roads into Grange Castle Business Park.

This year's Public Transport Investment Programme has a capital budget of €347 million. Most is delivering existing commitments, including LUAS CrossCity.  Construction of Metro North will commence around 2021 to be operational around 2026/27.  The Plan also provides for further progress in DART expansion. 

The Capital Plan also includes:

- €285m for local and national sports facilities;

-€131m for tourism product development,

- €100m for smarter travel and sustainable development including Greenways, and

- €28m for the Regional Airports Programme.

On sport, we expect completion of Phase 1 of the Indoor Arena in November.  An allocation of €30m has been ringfenced for Pairc Ui Chaoimh, subject to EU state aid approval. Much of the remaining sports funding relates to demand-led schemes such as the Sports Capital Programme.  These grant allocations are published and available. Smarter Travel and Sustainable Development projects are also demand-led and are largely committed in the short term.

For tourism, the Capital Plan includes a 7 year allocation of €131m.  The existing Experience Brands, the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East and Dublin: A Breath of Fresh Air will be developed. In addition, a new Grants Scheme for Large Tourism Projects was launched on 8^thJune last.

The Capital Plan earmarks €28m towards the Regional Airports Programme and I expect this year's allocation of €3.8m to be spent by year end.  This funding supports the four airports in Donegal, Ireland West Airport Knock, Kerry and Waterford in key safety and security enhancements.