Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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271. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which his Department plans to extend the motorway network to facilitate economic development in the less developed regions throughout the country in line with the requirements likely arising from the National Plan for Ireland, Ireland 2040 – Our Plan; if he and his Department have prioritised projects in this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6384/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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274. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for investment in the road services over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6387/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 271 and 274 together.

As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Within its annual budget the planning, design and implementation of individual road projects  is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

Decisions on the transport elements of the Capital Plan 2016-2021 were framed by the conclusions reached in my Department’s Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport. Based on the findings in that report it is envisaged that maintenance and renewal of the road network will continue to be the main priority over the next period and the bulk of the roads capital budget, approximately €4.4 billion, is earmarked for such essential work with a further €600 million allocated for implementation of the PPP road programme which is already underway.

As regards the possibility of additional funding within the Plan period, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is now commencing the Capital Plan review. While there is a strong case for additional funding for the transport sector, the parameters for the review and the final decisions on allocations are matters for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and Government as a whole.