Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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420. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress to date regarding upgrade works in respect of the M7 Naas to Newbridge-Osberstown interchange and Sallins bypass as announced in the recent capital plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23083/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with Kildare County Council. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act. As regards regional and local roads, responsibility for implementation of improvement projects rests with the relevant local authority which is Kildare County Council in this instance. As you are aware the transport element of the Capital Plan provides that work will commence on several roads projects which are targeted at removing critical bottlenecks or upgrading inadequate sections of road, including the M7 widening and the Sallins Bypass. Kildare County Council is responsible for the construction of the Osberstown Interchange.

In view of the lead role of TII, in conjunction with Kildare County Council, in relation to these projects I have referred the Deputy's question to TII  for direct reply.  If a reply is not received within 10 working days please contact my office.