Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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280. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the construction of the Cork to Limerick motorway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38120/16]

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 (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. 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.

The Capital Plan published in September 2015 outlined proposed transport investment priorities to 2022.   The transport element of the Capital Plan did provide for some targeted investment in a number of new projects in the Munster region including the N8/N25 Dunkettle Interchange and the N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom schemes. In addition, a number of other schemes targeted at removing bottlenecks and upgrading port access, will commence subject to necessary consents. It was not possible to include the M20 in the Capital Plan as the scale of investment to deliver it was not affordable.  

While I have agreed that TII can proceed with some early activities related to restarting planning for the proposed M20 scheme, additional funding would need to be made available to my Department if the project is to be progressed.  It is, therefore, premature to consider whether the project, if it were to go ahead, could be procured by way of a Public Private Partnership (PPP).  In this context I would note that in the case of road PPPs significant State investment is required up front.   It is also the case that, as part of the Capital Plan, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform introduced an Investment Policy Framework for PPPs which limits expenditure on PPPs to a percentage of annual capital spending.