Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

274. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the motorway routes which will commence construction within the next five years under the PPP agreement. [39155/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

​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 operation of individual road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

In recent years four roads PPP projects have gone ahead. The combined Arklow Rathnew/Newlands Cross scheme has been completed and three projects included in the Government PPP Investment Package launched in July 2012 are underway at present. These are the Gort to Tuam, New Ross Bypass and Gorey to Enniscorthy schemes.

The current Capital Plan does not make provision for further road PPPs.  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.

Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

275. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider Mallow as the starting location in the construction of the M20 Cork Limerick motorway in order to facilitate the original demand for a northern relief road around the town. [39156/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.