Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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780. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for an estimated timetable for an increase in the budget for local and regional roads by approximately 50% as committed to under the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23430/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The Capital Plan published in September 2015 outlined proposed transport investment priorities to 2022. I understand that the transport element of the plan was framed by the conclusions reached in my Department’s Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport. This report highlighted the importance of maintenance and renewal of transport infrastructure together with targeted investments to address particular bottlenecks and critical safety issues.

  The Capital Plan provides €6 billion for investment in the roads network in the period to 2022, with €4.4 billion earmarked for the maintenance and strengthening of the existing extensive network throughout the country and €1.6 billion for new projects including PPP projects.  The transport element of the Capital Plan is based on a gradual build up in capital funding for the road network from the current relatively low base towards the levels needed to support maintenance and improvement works. Funding will continue to be tight in 2017 with a step up in 2018 and 2019 and then a significant ramp up from 2020.

As part of the Programme for Partnership Government there is an increased emphasis on the need for spending on public services but the Government still has to operate within the EU fiscal rules and this does constrain options. There will be a Mid-Term Review of the Capital Plan and this will provide an opportunity to assess progress and consider what scope there is for increased levels of investment depending on economic growth.