Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1396. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for fast-tracking infrastructural projects within the Border counties in advance of the conclusion of Brexit talks; the priorities for Donegal infrastructural projects in the agreed capital plan by the government; the potential that such projects have for alleviating the impact of the Brexit negotiations conclusions; his views on whether advance planning at this critical stage is prudent rather than waiting for talks to conclude before implementing a strategy to meet the infrastructural needs of the Border counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36114/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​Investment priorities for the period to 2022 are set out in the Capital Plan published in September 2015. Decisions on the transport elements of the Capital Plan 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 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. My Department is making a strong case for additional funding, including the further development of a project pipeline for national road schemes. The final decisions on allocations are, however, matters for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and Government as a whole. Notwithstanding funding constraints TII has been undertaking some preparatory planning work with Donegal County Council in relation to the TEN-T network in the County.

Cross-border Greenways projects funded under INTERREG VA from Derry to Muff, from Derry to Buncrana and from Strabane to Lifford and the proposed Multi-Modal Transport Hub in Derry will provide sustainable transport routes for people travelling to and from Donegal to Derry and Tyrone. The promoters of these projects are aware of the necessity to progress as quickly as possible in light of the uncertainty surrounding the implications of BREXIT for EU funded projects. There will be a review of funding arrangements of all these projects in the second half of 2018 when it is expected that greater clarity will have emerged in relation to BREXIT.

With regard to Brexit, at the recent conclusion of the 2nd  round of talks, Mr Barnier said that there needs to be clearer understanding of how the UK intends post-Brexit to ensure continuation of North-South co-operation. It is expected that this will form part of the detailed discussions in the next round of discussions at the end of August. It will be difficult to determine how border issues will be fully resolved until we know what the new arrangements between the UK and the EU will be.