Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1092. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the Government's commitment to the A5 upgrade from Donegal/Derry/Tyrone to Monaghan as originally committed in the Saint Andrews Agreement; the progress made by his Department over the past 12 months on this key infrastructure project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34457/17]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1093. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided in 2017 to progress the proposed upgrade of the N2 Clontibret to the Border road scheme which is essential given the commitment to advance the A5 upgrade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34458/17]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1109. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to provide additional financial resources to areas such as Cavan and Monaghan for road infrastructure development due to the difficulties that will arise from Brexit for this region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34803/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1092, 1093 and 1109 together.

As the Deputy is aware, while I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme, the planning, design and implementation of individual road projects (such as the N2) is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, 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. 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. In this context it was not possible to include a range of projects in the Plan (including the N2 Clontibret to the Border scheme) given the overall funding envelope available.

The Capital Review is now underway and a number of local authorities (including Monaghan County Council) have made submissions to my Department outlining the case for funding for roads and my Department is making a strong case for additional funding, including the development of a project pipeline for road schemes.  While there is a strong case for additional funding for the transport sector, there are a multitude of possible national, regional and local projects around the country, the cost of which far exceed available funding and unfortunately, this means that only a limited number can be considered.

The final decisions on allocations are, however, matters for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and Government as a whole.

Concerning the A5 scheme, the planning and implementation of the A5 project is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland authorities.  The Stormont House Agreement and Implementation Plan - A Fresh Start - sets out the Government's commitment to contribute £75million to ensure that Phase 1 of the project (Newbuildings to north of Strabane) can commence as soon as the necessary planning process in the North has been concluded.