Written answers

Wednesday, 12 July 2017

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Road Projects Expenditure

Photo of Tony McLoughlinTony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

390. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated amount he expects to spend on improving and building local, regional and national roads in each of the years 2017 to 2021 including the already stated Department commitments with regard to the State capital roads investment programme together with all levels of road improvements at a national and county council level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33231/17]

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

​The 7 year transport element of the Capital Plan published in September 2015 sets out transport investment priorities to 2022. Decisions on the transport elements of the Capital Plan in the period to 2022 were framed by the conclusions reached in my Department's Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport (SFILT). The SFILT report highlighted the importance of maintenance and renewal of transport infrastructure together with some targeted investments to improve the existing network.

The Capital Plan includes provision for expenditure of €6 billion on the road network.  €4.4bn of this funding is earmarked for essential maintenance and strengthening works on the network. Given the annual funding profile, maintenance and strengthening is the main focus of expenditure in the early years of the Plan.  This category of expenditure,  which includes roads pavement resurfacing and renewal, is essential to protect the country's road assets.  A further €600m in the Capital Plan relates to  PPP projects and €860m is targeted at progressing a limited number of road improvement projects, including the regional and local road schemes mentioned in the Plan.  Of course, regional and local roads (including expenditure thereon) are the responsibility of local road authorities, who can also invest in their roads from their own resources.

While the Capital Plan reflects the overall funding envelope available in the period to 2022, the Deputy will be aware that the Government is undertaking a Review of the Capital Plan at present. The purpose of the Review is to take stock of progress and provide the Government with an opportunity to consider the scope for increased levels of investment, including in the transport sector, taking economic growth and fiscal progress into account.  The final decisions on the Capital Plan Review allocations are, however, matters for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and Government as a whole.

Grant allocations for 2017 are set out in the Regional and Local Road Grant Allocation booklet which is available in the Dáil library. Allocations for future years will be decided as part of the annual Estimates process.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.