Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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286. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a road scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38230/16]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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289. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Brexit will have any implications for a road scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38241/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 289 together.

As Minister for Transport, Tourism & 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 Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

The Capital Plan published in September 2015 outlines proposed transport investment priorities to 2022. The transport element of the plan was framed by the conclusions reached in the 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 national, regional and local road network in the period to 2022, with €4.4 billion earmarked for the maintenance and strengthening of the existing extensive network, €600 million to develop the road PPP projects already underway and €860 million for road upgrades.  Allowing for the commitments relating to PPP projects, the balance available for new projects within the available capital envelope was limited.

Given the limited capital envelope available for new projects, a range of upgrade projects, including the N2, could not be considered for funding within the period of the current Capital Plan.