Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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1351. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department will make provision in the capital roads budget to complete the section of the Portlaoise orbital route from Timahoe road, Portlaoise to Abbeyleix road, Portlaoise. [35315/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in Laois is the statutory responsibility of Laois County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the local authority's own resources supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.

The Portlaoise Southern Circular route is among the schemes included in the Capital Plan 2016-2021 subject to achieving the necessary project approvals (including approval from An Bord Pleanála for the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO)).  My Department’s Economic and Financial Evaluation Unit liaised with the Council in respect of the project appraisal submitted by the Council under the Capital Appraisal Framework.  This appraisal process was concluded last month and the Council was advised of my Department’s approval to progress the project to the next stage. I understand that this will involve the submission by the Council of the Compulsory Purchase Order relating to the project to An Bord Pleanála for approval.

It is the responsibility of Laois County Council to progress this scheme through the approval process and the timescale for the progression of the scheme to construction depends on when that process is completed.  Once the necessary project approvals are received funding support from my Department for construction of the project will be provided.